Smithsonian Institution

From the desk of Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III: When Abraham Lincoln ran for president in 1860, he did not have abundant experience in politics and needed to introduce his candidacy to the American people at a time of great political division. Banners like this one from Smithsonian National Museum of American History and posters like this one from National Portrait Gallery remind me of the vital importance of introducing a candidate's values, personality, and positions to voters. Though technology has transformed what a presidential campaign looks like in 2024, capturing voters' attention is still as critical as it was when Lincoln's campaign team produced an incredible volume of pamphlets and posters, many of which we maintain in the Smithsonian's collections today. On this National Voter Registration Day, I reflect upon the fact that this election too will one day be history—and I encourage you to make a plan to register, vote, and help shape it. #NationalVoterRegistrationDay

Today is National Voter Registration Day, a civic holiday dedicated to encouraging Americans to register to vote in local and national elections. There are many ways organizations remind people about voter registration. One way is through the mail! This stamp from 1964 reminded people daily to register as they go through their mail. Due to high demand, the Post Office Department significantly increased the stamp supply. It was so successful that the post office reprinted the stamp during the midterm elections two years later. You can learn more about this stamp and more with our National Postal Museum's new exhibition “Voting by Mail: Civil War to Covid-19 / Voto por Correo: De la Guerra Civil al Covid-19.” ??: This poster is in the collection of Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.

???? ?Viva la Reina de la Salsa! Rosario Dawson, a member of our advisory council, got a behind-the-scenes look at a Bata Cubana, or Cuban Rumba dress, donated by the "Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz to our Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Over her vast career, Cruz recorded more than 70 albums and won five Grammy Awards. ?? Cruz is featured on the newest U.S. quarter as part of our American Women Quarters? Program in partnership with United States Mint. Read more about her: https://s.si.edu/4e43Vpq #SmithsonianHHM

Cutting edge? That's us. We had telephones in the Smithsonian Castle back when there were only 187 phone lines in Washington, D.C. https://lnkd.in/eWfGxn3A

Acrobatic movements, step dancing, and aerial jumps are just a few of the elements that make up a traditional performance of the Quechua Danza de Tijeras—the Scissor Dance.?? ? The origins of the Scissor Dance are uncertain, though it evolved throughout the high Andean mountains of south-central Peru. Scissor dancers compete in teams (cuadrillas) of at least four: two dancers, a harpist, and a violinist. Pairs of dancers strike together two iron rods (the scissors) in time to the music.? ? Their brightly colored outfits are embroidered with fringe, sequins, and small mirrors. The dancers claim to be children of Wamani (the mountain spirit), and each dancer’s special name, given to them by elder dancers and inspired by “their” Wamani, is also typically embroidered on their outfits. The name of the dancer who wore this outfit—Lastapara, which means “snowfall” in Quechua—is visible on the hat and apron.? ? In the 1500s and 1600s, Catholic leaders persecuted scissor dancers and those performing other Indigenous rituals because they refused to abandon their practices. Since the Spanish could not root out Indigenous Andean beliefs, the Scissor Dance and other rituals were integrated into colonial society through the Catholic calendar, fusing Christian rites and traditional Indigenous practices in Andean communities.? ? See a performance by scissor dancers Danzante Maldición and Supay Wayra at our National Museum of the American Indian from 2019.?https://bit.ly/47tIdIO ? #SmithsonianHHM?

Happy #HispanicHeritageMonth! It's a great time to explore the resources of our National Museum of the American Latino: https://s.si.edu/3B6ZbAI #SmithsonianHHM

On our watch, no sequin gets left behind. ? Astrologer and television personality Walter Mercado kept viewers glued to their screens with his dramatic horoscope readings and daily positive affirmations for over 50 years. An icon of Spanish-language television, Mercado was unapologetically himself, bending norms around gender with his signature style. And that style often featured sparkles. Mercado often accessorized his embroidered suits with rings, bejeweled brooches, boots, and capes. Inspired by the flag of his beloved Puerto Rico, Mercado wore this cape to Puerto Rican Day parades. See our National Museum of the American Latino staff carefully install Mercado’s cape, in the collection of our Smithsonian National Museum of American History in "?Presente! A Latino History of the United States." As part of the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future, we’re securing funds to preserve objects, like Mercado’s cape, that reveal important and inclusive histories. Your support helps us preserve every sparkle for future generations. Learn more about how you can get involved. https://lnkd.in/eukWq9cd #SmithsonianHHM #AmericanLatinoMuseum

Send this to someone who acts like these baby bobolinks when they're hangry.?? ?? To protect at-risk grassland birds, such as American Kestrels, Bobolinks, and Eastern Meadowlarks, Smithsonian scientists are working with local landowners in Virginia to study how young birds survive and move after they leave the nest. By fitting the birds with tiny tracking devices that weigh about as much as two or three paperclips, scientists can collect data about the birds’ habits to understand how local landowners can best protect their habitats. Since 2010, the Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes program, part of our Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, has partnered with local landowners on projects like this one to combat losses in biodiversity and promote sustainable agriculture and land management in this rural area.? ? ? Learn how you can support the Smithsonian's work during the campaign for our shared future. https://s.si.edu/3zfwWiP ?? #Smithsonian #Conservation #Grasslands #Biodiversity #CommunityScience (Note: The work described in this post features projects between Virginia Working Landscapes, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, The Migratory Connectivity Project, Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, and University of Maryland. All handling of wild birds for these studies is conducted by trained professionals under a federally authorized banding permit.)

Share the future. Shape the future. ?? Join us in driving curiosity and innovation as part of the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future. Learn more about how you can support our work to build a better future for all. https://s.si.edu/4e1oItM

In the words of Mae Jemison: "The future never just happened. It was created." On this day in 1992, Jemison became the first African American woman in space. Fifty-seven women were selected for the U.S. astronaut corps between 1978 and 2018. In 1992, engineer and physician Jemison became the first African American woman to fly in space as a crew member of the Endeavour. After leaving NASA, Jemison continued her career in science and as champion for women in STEM. Read more and see her space suit name tag: https://s.si.edu/4eh4BHF ??: NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration