Learn about the history of predicting weather in the United States from actor Dwayne Starlin playing Joseph Henry, first secretary of the Smithsonian.  Henry played a crucial role in creating a weather prediction service in the United States that became the National Weather Service.  Th

In the early nineteenth century, lighthouses in the United States were considered inferior to those in France and England. American mariners complained about the quality of the light emanating from local lighthouse towers, arguing that European lighthouses were more effective at shining bright be

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast of the United States. In her wake, a team of curators from the museum set out to collect objects that captured the history of the moment and what it meant to the country. In this episode of the History Explorer podc

Have you ever wondered how the lights in lighthouses are so bright? In this activity, students will examine a Fresnel lens to develop an understanding of how some lighthouse lenses work. They will then apply their knowledge of the lighthouse lens technology to imagine a new invention using a ligh

For hundreds of years, seacoasts, rivers, lakes, and canals have had a big impact on the ways America has changed as a country.  By using this OurStory module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, children and adults can enjoy exploring lighthouses and the maritime hist

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie is a work of children's literature about a young heroine who runs her family's lighthouse during a fierce storm. Included in an OurStory module entitled Life on the Water, this activity includes four strategies that will help adults and ch