How to Explore the Smithsonian Open Access Collection
In 2020 the Smithsonian released millions of images as CC0. Here's how to navigate one of the largest open cultural collections in the world.
Quick answers
- What is Smithsonian Open Access?
- Smithsonian Open Access is a programme launched in 2020 that released millions of images and datasets across the Smithsonian's museums, archives, and libraries under CC0, free to use for any purpose with no permission required.
- How many images are in Smithsonian Open Access?
- Millions, spanning art, history, natural history, and air and space. It is one of the largest open cultural collections anywhere, which makes narrowing by unit or subject more useful than browsing the whole thing.
- Do I need an API key for the Smithsonian collection?
- Not for browsing the website. A free api.data.gov key is needed for programmatic access through the Smithsonian API, which is also what enables the Smithsonian as a source inside Musist.
- Can I use Smithsonian images commercially?
- Yes. Everything marked Open Access is CC0, which permits commercial use, modification, and redistribution with no fee or attribution requirement.
In 2020 the Smithsonian launched Open Access, releasing millions of images and datasets across its museums, archives, and libraries under CC0 — free to use for any purpose with no permission required. It is one of the largest open cultural collections anywhere, spanning art, natural history, air and space, and more.
Where to start
The scale can be overwhelming, so narrow early:
- Filter to CC0 / Open Access so every result is reusable.
- Pick a unit (for art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Freer|Sackler are good entry points) to scope the collection down.
- Search by subject or medium rather than browsing everything at once.
Getting a Smithsonian API key
The Smithsonian exposes its collection through an API on api.data.gov. A free key unlocks programmatic access — and in Musist, it's what enables the Smithsonian as a source. Without a key, Musist still runs on The Met and the Rijksmuseum (both keyless); add one to include the Smithsonian's millions of records.
Explore it inside Musist
Once the Smithsonian source is enabled, it joins the shared Musist feed. Because Musist federates all three museums, a single session can carry you from a Dutch still life to a Smithsonian photograph to a Met sculpture — following creators and themes across institutions.
Everything marked Open Access here is CC0. If you're unclear on what that permits versus a plain public-domain label, read Public Domain vs. CC0.
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