8 of the most awesome images in the Smithsonian Open Access library

Home to no fewer than 19 museums, Washington DC's Smithsonian Institution has a vast collection of all kinds of art and historical artefacts. Over the last two years, it's been sharing digitised images of some of its treasures in a free open access online library that's now grown from 2.5m assets in 2020 to a massive 4.4m pieces including everything from postage stamps and portraits to 3D models. 

Considering the breadth of the Smithsonian's collections, there's something for everyone. As well as its museums, the Smithsonian is also home to the US National Zoo, nine research centres and vast archives (hence while it makes it to our pick of the best online art galleries) so everyone from artists to graphic designers and even scientists should find something of interest.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Joe Foley

Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives. There he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing visual content and design assets for the hospitality sector. He also dances Argentine tango.

Read more
Hip-Hop infographic by Dorothy
29 inspiring infographics
posters
30 of the best poster designs
Absolut vodka
40 of the best print ads of all time
404 pages: LEGO
The best 404 pages for clever web design inspiration
Jakob Eirich art
Digital art to inspire: 21 digital artists you need to know about
the empire state building, Toy Story poster, Sonic the hedgehog and a spirograph - four pictures comped together
5 art and design anniversaries to get inspired by in 2025 – from Art Deco to Sega
Latest in Photography
Cam'ron
Turns out you can get sued for putting your own face on a shower curtain
Screenshot of a man shouting at a referee during the Super Bowl next to a similar looking painting
Super Bowl photos as famous paintings are the best thing you'll see all day
 Virtual Photography Awards 2023
These Virtual Photography Award winners are blowing my mind
Barry Sanders statue
Unprecedented lawsuit pits photographer against major NFL team
Key art tutorial
How to create key art for video games in Photoshop and Blender
GoPro hero 12 black
GoPro Hero12 Black review: a social media creator's dream
Latest in News
Absolut vodka
Why Absolut's 'bottle' print ad is the greatest of all time
Democratic Party donkey logo
People are bashing the Democrat's new logo, but a rebrand was necessary
Mark looks at a crystal cube from Lumon in Severance
5 perfect Severance prop designs that shaped Apple TV's best series
Audi EV billboard adverts
Ingenious Audi billboards soar above the chaos in EV branding
Chupa Chups logo
The Chupa Chups logo was created by an art legend in just one hour
DC Sonic the Hedgehog comic collaboration
Sega reveals first glimpse of the Sonic DC collaboration we never knew we needed