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Ask the Smithsonian
Visitor Information and Associates’ Reception Center volunteer Paula Coupe helps a visitor find her way around the Smithsonian at the Castle’s information center.
Photo by Lindsay Mulgrew, Smithsonian Institution
"Where's the Smithsonian?"
This is one of the most frequently asked questions from the Institution's twenty million annual visitors, but the answer is not a simple one. The Smithsonian extends far beyond the National Mall and the greater Washington, D.C., area, with research centers in Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and Panama; an astrophysics observatory in Massachusetts; and two major museums in New York City. Smithsonian research projects, collections efforts, and partnerships with other institutions reach all the way around the world.
Security Supervisor Perry W. Singletary assists a visitor to the National Air and Space Museum’s exhibition on the Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Aerial Age.
Photo by Lindsay Mulgrew, Smithsonian Institution
There's much more to learn about the Smithsonian Institution, and we have assembled just the right people to answer your questions. Staff and volunteers from the Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center handle general inquiries; National Programs staff provide information on outreach around the United States; and public information officers can tell you the latest news. Security officers meet and greet visitors while keeping both the public and our Smithsonian collections safe. Smithsonian Enterprises staffers plan informative programs and products to enhance visitors' learning experiences.
Come on in and "ask the Smithsonian!"
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