For efficient service, please read through the following list and contact the appropriate office directly.
Collections: Donating and Locating
I would like to donate an object to the Smithsonian Institution. What should I do?
The Smithsonian acquires thousands of objects and specimens each year for its collection holdings through donation, bequest, purchase, exchange, and field collecting. Each museum and curatorial department decides on a case-by-case basis which objects to add to its collections. Donations are accepted only when the item truly complements the collection. We also consider whether we can properly care for an intended donation, as our collections are held in trust for the American people.
If you are interested in donating objects to one of the following Smithsonian museums, please visit the appropriate webpage:
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- National Museum of African Art
- National Air and Space Museum and its Udvar Hazy Center
- Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of the American Indian
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- National Portrait Gallery
- National Postal Museum
- Smithsonian Institution Libraries
- Archives of American Art
If you would like to donate objects to the Sackler Gallery of Asian Art, please email [email protected].
If you would like to donate objects to the National Museum of Natural History, please email [email protected].
Under no circumstances should you send us your object without prior written curatorial approval.
How can I find out if the Smithsonian holds a particular object in its collections and where it might be?
The Smithsonian holds nearly 154 million objects in its collections, distributed among its 21 museums, the National Zoo, libraries, research centers, and storage facilities. Many artifacts are donated to the Smithsonian by individuals, private collectors, and federal agencies; others come to the collections through field expeditions, bequests, exchanges with other museums and organizations, and purchases.
Only a small percentage of the Smithsonian’s vast holdings are on view. Many artifacts not on display are stored in collection study areas in the museums and are available to researchers by appointment. Air- and spacecraft are conserved and stored at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the National Air and Space Museum, in Chantilly, Virginia. Other research collections are housed in Landover and Suitland, Maryland, facilities.
Most of our collections have been cataloged in our Collections database. If you don’t find the object you are interested in listed there, please send as much information about the object as you have to [email protected]; such information as a complete description of the item, its history, how and when it came to the Smithsonian, who donated it, and the museum or facility to which it was donated can help us refer your inquiry to the appropriate collections staff.
Some museums and units may be contacted directly. To either conduct research or inquire about a collection, either send a detailed email or follow instructions at any of the following:
Anacostia Community Museum (email only)
Lost and Found
Web: Lost and Found
To report a lost possession, click on the "Lost Property Report Form" inside the link above.
Magazine Subscriptions
Air & Space Quarterly
- Web: Air & Space Quarterly
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 800.513.3081
Smithsonian Magazine
- Web: Change or update your membership information.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 800.766.2149
Membership Services
The Smithsonian does not maintain a centralized mailing list; each membership program maintains its own membership database.
National Associates, Smithsonian Associates, and Friends of the Smithsonian may look up their membership by visiting https://smithsonianservice.com/member
For specific inquiries, including a change of address, or to stop receiving mail, please contact the appropriate membership program:
- National Associates
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 800.766.2149 - Smithsonian Associates
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.633.3030 - Friends of the Smithsonian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 800.931.3226 - African American History and Culture
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 844.750.3012 or 202.633.9539 - African Art Museum
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.633.4607 - National Air & Space Museum (DC and VA)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 800.513.3081 - Smithsonian American Art Museum
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.633.8420 - National Museum of American History
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.633.0398 - National Museum of American Indian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 800.242.6624 or 202.633.6984 - Cooper Hewitt National Museum of Design
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 212.849.8349 - National Museum of Asian Art (Freer|Sackler)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.633.0430 - Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.633.2836 - National Zoo
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.633.2922 - National Museum of Natural History
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.633.0821 - National Postal Museum
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.633.7900 - Renwick Gallery
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 301.907.3888
Museum and Zoo Contacts
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- National Museum of African Art
- National Air and Space Museum (DC and VA)
- Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of the American Indian (DC and NY)
- National Museum of the American Latino
- Smithsonian American Women's History Museum
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Arts and Industries Building
- National Museum of Asian Art
- Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
- Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Portrait Gallery
- National Postal Museum
- Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
Office of Human Resources
- Web: Office of Human Resources
- Phone: 202.633.6370
Rights and Reproductions
- For general information on using Smithsonian content, please visit our Terms of Use webpage.
- Each museum and office grants rights to reproduce objects and images in its collections.
- To determine which museum holds the object or image you are interested in, search our Collections database.
- For information on how to contact the appropriate office to request rights, please see our Rights, Restrictions, and Security Contacts webpage.
- To explore and access Smithsonian content that you may download and use without permission visit Smithsonian Open Access.
Smithsonian Books and Scholarly Press
Smithsonian Books
- Web: www.smithsonianbooks.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone Orders: 800.733.3000 (Penguin Random House Customer Service)
Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press
- Web: scholarlypress.si.edu
- Email: [email protected]
DK Smithsonian- published by Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc. (not Smithsonian)
Smithsonian Catalog/Museum Stores
Online Shopping
Museum Stores
Smithsonian Journeys (Travel)/ Smithsonian Channel
Smithsonian Journeys
- Web: www.smithsonianjourneys.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 855.330.1542
- International callers: 989.702-2515
- Reservations: [email protected]
Smithsonian Channel
- Web: www.smithsonianchannel.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 844.764.8488
- Webform
General Information
For information on visit-planning, including timed entry passes, please visit:
- Webpage: www.si.edu/visit
For visit-planning and Smithsonian-related inquiries not addressed above:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 202.633.1000 (recorded information/live voice)
- Address:
Smithsonian Information
PO Box 37012
SI Building, Room 153, MRC 010
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 - Staff Mail:
Employee name
Smithsonian Institution
Building name, room number (if known)
PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012