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A peek into our collections, one object at a time
Navajo Code Talkers Bag
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The Unbreakable Navajo Code

Honoring the Code Talkers who helped win a war.
Dracula Stamp
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“I never drink…wine.”

This stamp depicts actor Bela Lugosi as the vampire Count Dracula. "I am Dracula. I bid you welcome."
Judi Oyama
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Shredding With Judi Oyama

In 2015, Oyama became the first woman to win the N-Men Icon Award given to Northern California skaters who have made an impact on the sport.
Goldfish Card
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Say Hello From Smithsonian Libraries

Use one of the Libraries' cool images to mail or email a postcard.
Tattoo Equipment
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A Revolution in Tattooing

Thomas Edison's surprising connection to tattoos.
Kintsugi Tea Bowl
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The Beauty of Broken Objects

Kintsugi (golden joinery) and the art of embracing imperfection.
Preamble
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We the People

We the people celebrate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.
Zen Motorcycle
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Philosophy Meets Motorcycle Maintenance on a Road Trip

Thinking about the open road with Robert M. Pirsig’s 1966 Honda Super Hawk motorcycle.
Mrs. Maisel Costumes
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Fashionably Funny

"Marvelous" costumes help tell the story of "Midge" Maisel, a Manhattan wife and mother who becomes a stand-up comedian.
Patricia Cowings
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In Space, No One Can Hear You Say "Ahhhh"

Patricia Cowings is a scientist astronaut who helps astronauts go to space.
Basquiat
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Basquiat's Presence Continues To Loom Large in Modern Art

More than 30 years after his death, Jean-Michel Basquiat remains a strong presence in modern art.
Octavia Butler Typewriter
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Keys to the Future

Octavia Butler was a master storyteller and considered the godmother of Afrofuturism.
Chiura Obata, "Mono Crater"
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Art That Bridges Cultures

Chiura Obata's artwork captures the "Great Nature" of the American West.
corningware casserole dish
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Serving Up Holiday Classics

The iconic casserole dish with military roots.
Pourier Belt
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Wonder Women

Sometimes a belt is more than fashion—it can tell a story.
Frankenstein comic book cover.
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It's Alive! It's Alive!

The story of Frankenstein has been told many times—even in comics.
Marisol Chalas wearing her flight uniform and holding a helmet standing against a cloud-filled sky.
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The Latina Pilot Who Broke Barriers

Having earned more than a dozen awards, Maj. Marisol Chalas is the first Latina National Guard Black Hawk helicopter pilot.
Pencil Sharpener
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Stay Sharp This School Year

Decades after it was first introduced, this pencil sharpener can still be found in classrooms across the U.S. 
Roller Derby World Cup 2011
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Rolling With the Women of Roller Derby

The fun and rough-and-tumble sport of roller derby.
Armadillo with a pink shell back and furry body.
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The Elusive Furry Pink Fairy Armadillo

Furry and the smallest of all armadillos, the pink fairy armadillo can fit in the palm of your hand.
Apollo 11 Patch
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The Eagle Has Landed

The Apollo 11 patch is the only one in NASA's history that doesn't include the astronauts' names.
Pig Muppet in a space suit with a silver cape.
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Pigs in Spaaaaaace

The Muppet Show's Swinetrek parody of Star Trek, Lost in Space and other space-themed shows of the 1960s and ’70s featured this extra.
Parliament-Funkadelic Mothership
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We Want the Funk!

Put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip, and come on up to the Mothership.
Secretary Abbot reading the pyrheliometer
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Meet the Smithsonian Secretary Who Studied the Sun

The Smithsonian’s fifth Secretary Charles G. Abbot (from 1928–1944) was particularly interested in solar changes. 

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