Smithsonian (magazine)

• 1. Founding And Editorial Vision

  ›

  Edward K. Thompson, the retired editor of Life magazine, received a request from S. Dillon Ripley in 1970 to create a new publication for the Smithsonian Institution. Ripley asked him to produce a magazine about things in which the institution was interested or ought to be interested. Thompson later recalled that his philosophy would stir curiosity in already receptive minds rather than trying to convert skeptics. He intended to deal with history as it is relevant to the present day instead of treating it as ancient artifacts. The magazine would present art since true art is never dated and required the richest possible reproduction available at the time. Thompson planned to peer into the future via coverage of social progress and of science and technology. Technical matters would be digested and made intelligible by skilled writers who would stimulate readers to reach upward without turning them off with jargon. He promised to find the best writers and the best photographers not unlike the best of the old Life magazine.

  4

• 2. Circulation Growth Milestones

  ›

  The first issue of Smithsonian appeared on newsstands in 1970 with an initial print run that struggled to gain traction among general audiences. By 1973, the magazine turned a profit for the first time after years of operating under budget constraints. Circulation had nearly quadrupled by 1974, reaching 635,000 copies distributed across the United States. The publication hit the one million milestone in 1975, marking one of the most successful launches of its time. Don Moser replaced Thompson in 1980 and brought his own experience from working at Life magazine to the role. Under subsequent leadership including Carey Winfrey, circulation reached upwards of two million before his retirement in 2001. Michael Caruso succeeded Carey Winfrey in 2011 and served as editor-in-chief until 2019 when Debra Rosenberg took over the position alongside Terence Monmaney.

  31

• 3. Editorial Leadership Transitions

  ›

  Don Moser assumed control of the magazine in 1980 after serving as a former colleague of Edward K. Thompson at Life magazine. He maintained the high standards established during the founding era while adapting content to changing reader interests throughout the 1980s. Carey Winfrey led the publication through the 1990s and early 2000s, guiding circulation growth to levels unseen since the initial launch period. His tenure ended in 2001 when he retired from the organization after decades of service. Michael Caruso stepped into the editor-in-chief role in 2011 following Winfrey's departure and held the position for eight years. The editorial office saw another transition in 2019 when Debra Rosenberg became editor-in-chief alongside Terence Monmaney who joined the team that same year. These leadership changes reflected evolving strategies for maintaining relevance in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.

  5

• 4. American Ingenuity Awards Program

  ›

  The Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards ran from 2012 until 2019 as a recognition program for innovation in the arts sciences and technology. Winners included Bryan Stevenson Elon Musk Lin-Manuel Miranda OK Go John Krasinski Dave Eggers Aziz Ansari Rosanne Cash Jeff Bezos Fred Armisen Bill Hader and David Lynch. Presenters have included Stephen Hawking twice Stephen Colbert David Byrne Herbie Hancock Erin Brockovich Ruben Blades Bill Nye Art Spiegelman and Senator Al Franken. The award itself was created by the artist Jeff Koons who designed its physical form and conceptual framework. The program highlighted individuals whose work demonstrated creative problem solving across diverse fields ranging from engineering to performance art. Each year the magazine selected honorees based on their contributions to society through original thinking and practical application of new ideas.

  7

• 5. Museum Day Free Admission Events

  ›

  Smithsonian arranged Museum Day alternatively known as Smithsonian Day when museums in all fifty U.S. states offered limited free admission to visitors. In 2018 over 1,400 museums participated in the annual event that drew millions of people into cultural institutions nationwide. The offer included free admission for the ticket holder plus one guest and this ticket was specific to the chosen museum only. The intention was for one ticket per person in contrast to International Museum Day when participating museums generally offer entirely free admission throughout the day. Participants could select a single location and receive entry without charge for themselves and a companion during designated hours. The program ended in 2023 and 2024 with no further explanation provided by the organization behind the initiative. The web landing page redirects to the home page of the museum after cancellation announcements appeared online.

  912

• 6. Notable Contributor Roster

  ›

  Richard Conniff contributed articles exploring natural history and environmental science topics to the pages of Smithsonian magazine over many years. Frank Deford wrote about sports culture and human interest stories that resonated with readers seeking personal narratives within broader contexts. Eileen Gunn explored speculative fiction themes while Penn Jillette brought his perspective on magic and skepticism to various feature pieces. Jon Krakauer published investigative reports on adventure and survival situations that became defining works for the publication's reputation. Jill Lepore examined historical events through rigorous research methods that set new standards for narrative nonfiction writing. David McCullough delivered lectures and essays on American history that reached audiences beyond traditional academic circles. Susan Orlean crafted profiles of unusual characters and subcultures that demonstrated the magazine's commitment to diverse storytelling approaches. These writers joined other contributors including Nathaniel Philbrick Paul Theroux Lindsay Stern Jerry Adler Elizabeth Royte and Alan Lightman to build a roster of distinguished voices.