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 theSackler Gallery of Asian Art, please emailMeyerA@si.edu.
If you would like to donate objects to the National Museum of Natural History, please email naturalexperience@si.edu.
Under no circ*mstances 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 info@si.edu; 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)
