SOLD OUT

By Peggy Feerick

ONLINE: Sat., May 13 and Sun., May 14, 10 a.m.; Peggy Feerick; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UA; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

The Flash Class

Explore the world of cyanotypes, a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue and white print. Create your own cyanotype artwork in this unique studio arts program.

By Marty Kaplan

Lighting can make or break your work as a digital photographer. Learn the tech tips that will make your flash one of your most effective creative tools and help create a threedimensional look in your photographs of people and objects.

ONLINE: Mon., May 1–22, 6:30 p.m.; Marty Kaplan; details on website; CODE 1V0-0UF; Members $165; Nonmembers $185

PHOTOGRAPHY: Experienced n n n n

NEW CLASS

Photographing Industrial Items

Learn the camera controls, composition, and lighting considerations to achieve artful images of items such as brickwork, apartment or office buzzers, call boxes, and vintage signage. Working knowledge of your camera is required, along with willingness to see the mundane as magnificent.

ONLINE: Thurs., June 1 and 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1V0-0UD; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

ONLINE: Sat., June 17 and 24, 12 p.m.; Patricia Howard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UY; Members $85; Nonmembers $105

By Patricia Howard

Mastering Exposure

Develop a greater understanding of the complex relationship among aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Topics include exposure modes, exposure compensation, filter exposure factors, bracketing, metering modes, histograms, the zone system, dynamic range, eliminating camera shake, tripods, and flash concepts. Skills are honed through assignments and in-class review.

ONLINE: Thurs., April 27–May 25, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0TD; Members $185; Nonmembers $215

By Joe Yablonsky

Advantages to providing your email to customer service:

• Receive a digital version of the member program guide so you can read it anywhere

• Receive important notices regarding your class along with other useful information

Slow Shutter-Speed Photography

Slow things down as you learn to capture movement and low light scenes with longer shutter speeds. Topics covered include panning, zoom effect, intentional camera movement, tripods, drive modes, neutral density filters, and the camera settings required to take slow shutter-speed photos in bright light, low light, twilight, and night.

ONLINE: Wed., May 10 and 17, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0TZ; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

The Photo Essay

Learn how to create a photo essay, a set of photographs that tell a story or evoke a series of emotions. Homework assignments are designed to encourage students to explore their own personal interests.

ONLINE: Wed., May 24 and June 21, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V00UB; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Hands-On History of Photography: Surrealism

Learn about the world of the photo surrealists—Man Ray, László Moholy-Nagy, Hannah Höch, and others—and explore how they pushed the boundaries of photographic imagery. Then, create your own surrealist collage as part of the experience.

ONLINE: Sat., June 3 and 10, 12 p.m.; Pat Howard; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V00UE; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

Macro Photography

Take a much closer look at your photographic subjects through the art of macro photography. Get an introduction to the technique’s aesthetics and design, as well as technical tips on lenses, close-up focusing distance, depth of field, tripod use, lighting, and other key elements.

ONLINE: Thurs., June 15 and 22, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details and supply list on website; CODE 1V0-0UX; Members $90; Nonmembers $110

Build Your Photographic Portfolio

Show off your photos like a pro and learn how to assemble a personal portfolio that reflects your best work and your distinctive vision as a photographer. Targeted homework assignments help you increase your collection of portfolio-quality work.

ONLINE: Wed., May 31–June 14, 6:30 p.m.; Joe Yablonsky; details on website; CODE 1V0-0UC; Members $125; Nonmembers $145

By Joe Yablonsky

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Bus Tour

Doodlebugging Through Delaware

Hop aboard a private charter of an early 20th-century self-propelled railcar called the Doodlebug and take in the spring sights along the historic Wilmington & Western Railroad line. The W&W has been in continuous operation since 1867, stretching at its longest to 20 miles of track along the Red Clay Valley from downtown Wilmington, Delaware, to Landenberg, Pennsylvania.

As you ride, tour leader Joe Nevin, a railroad historian, covers the colorful background of the W&W and offers stories of the once-bustling industrial towns along the branch line. The visit includes a tour of the W&W’s steam locomotive and passenger car shop facilities at Marshalltown, as well as a guided walking tour of a vintage amusement park site at Brandywine Springs. The day concludes with a stop in New Castle to see remnants of the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad, one of the nation’s first. Lunch is at the Back Burner restaurant in Hockessin, the current end of the line.

Sat., April 15, 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-008; Members $200; Nonmembers $250

2-Day Tour

The Best of Brooklyn

Brooklyn is New York City’s most populous borough and is arguably the most historic and colorful section of the city. Today it’s hipper than ever, filled with intriguing shops and restaurants and a booming cultural scene. On this two-day visit, arts journalist and former Brooklynite Richard Selden introduces you to several of Brooklyn’s top attractions.

The itinerary includes the Brooklyn Museum; a chamber-music performance at the floating venue Bargemusic; and a special look inside the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Bridge, Olmsted and Vaux’s Prospect Park, and other landmarks round out the sites. Stay in a hotel in the heart of Brooklyn and eat like a local with dinner at a charming Italian restaurant in Carroll Gardens and a visit to an authentic Turkish restaurant for lunch.

Sun., April 16, 7 a.m.–Mon., April 17, 9:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-BOB; Members $635; Nonmembers $835

Military History in the Capital Area

Much of America’s military history—both past and present—is connected to the capital area, the backdrop for a day that spotlights three significant sites in a tour led by two staff members of the National Museum of the United States Army, public outreach manager Brent Feito and historian Matt Seelinger.

A visit to Mount Vernon, the home of the United States’ first commander in chief, George Washington, sets the stage for examining the early military campaigns of the fledgling nation. The Fort Belvoir–based Museum of the United States Army, one of the newest in the area, gives visitors the opportunity to explore the branch’s 247-year history and its direct influence on American life.

The final stop is the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, for a look at the extensive display of American and international military aircraft, uniforms, and other artifacts and close-up views of holdings such as the Bell AH1F Cobra, a Bell UH-1H Iroquois “Huey,” and a Redstone missile.

Fri., April 21, 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; by bus; complete tour information on website; box lunch provided; CODE 1CD-009; Members $160; Nonmembers $210

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Hillwood: A Collector’s Vision of Beauty, Inside and Outside

Walking Tour

Discover one of the finest and most personal museums in Washington in a private, small-group experience that invites you to spend a spring day exploring Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, the former residence of businesswoman and collector Marjorie Merriweather Post.

Enjoy a guided tour of Hillwood’s gardens, which feature a diverse and fascinating array of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. It’s the perfect season to stroll through the French parterre, the Japanese-style garden, and the working greenhouse filled with orchids and other tropical plants.

Then tour the Georgian-style mansion that reflects the distinctive artistic focus of Post, who maintained strong ties to the 18th-century French decorating style when transforming Hillwood into her own after purchasing the estate in 1955. Within its walls are a large decorative arts collection focusing heavily on Russian art and religious objects—including Faberge eggs—as well as 18th- and 19th-century French art and furniture.

TWO OPTIONS: Fri., May 5 (CODE 1CD-010) and Fri., May 19 (CODE 1CD-B10), 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $150; Nonmembers $200

Glimpses of Old Arlington

The essence of Arlington County goes beyond highways and high-rises—and reaches deep into the past. From the early 17th century to the Revolution and the Civil War to the Great Depression and the postwar boom, Arlington County has been a canvas for American history. Get a close look at sites that reflect that fascinating heritage with historian Dakota Springston.

After an introductory presentation at the Ripley Center, a bus tour travels through diverse neighborhoods in East Falls Church, Fostoria, Clarendon, Cherrydale, Fort Myer Heights, Glencarlyn, and Ballston. Participants visit five historic structures such as the Ball-Sellers House, a circa-1780 log cabin that’s the oldest residence in the county; the Mary Carlin House from around 1800; and the Clarendon post office, opened in 1937. A catered box lunch is served in a firehouse.

Sat., May 6, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; CODE 1CD-011; by bus; detailed tour information on website; Members $135; Nonmembers $185

Lincoln in Virginia: A Wartime Journey

Abraham Lincoln spent 18 of the last 21 days of his life in eastern Virginia, headquarters for Ulysses S. Grant’s campaign against Robert E. Lee, whose army was in the process of defending Richmond and Petersburg. Join Noah Andre Trudeau, author of Lincoln’s Greatest Journey: Sixteen Days That Changed a Presidency, March 24–April 8, 1865, as he leads a visit to sites in the region connected to that trip.

Highlights include City Point, Lincoln’s base during his visit; Fort Wadsworth, where Lincoln and his son Tad observed troops in combat; the Thomas Wallace House, the site at which Lincoln and General Grant met to discuss the terms for Lee’s surrender; and Richmond’s Jefferson Davis mansion, the house Lincoln visited the day after Union troops entered the city. Representatives of the National Park Service and the American Civil War Museum add perspective on Lincoln’s visit and the closing weeks of the war.

Sat., May 13, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-012; Members $175; Nonmembers $225

The Civil War at Chancellorsville

In the eyes of many Civil War scholars, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory and Union General Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker’s greatest lost opportunity can be found during the battle of Chancellorsville that raged in the Virginia Wilderness from May 1-4, 1863. Marc Thompson, a former Air Force military intelligence officer, leads a visit to most of the significant locations associated with this epic Civil War battle. Thompson’s extensive experience in analyzing and assessing adversary operations, along with his intimate knowledge of the Chancellorsville battlefield, provide him with some unique perspectives on combat leadership and the fog of war that impacted the battle’s participants.

Sat., May 20, 8:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-013; Members $150; Nonmembers $200

Related program: A Bitter Defeat (see p. 7)

Walking Tour

A Spring Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island

Enjoy a spring morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows the island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C.

Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes.

THREE OPTIONS: Tues., May 23 (CODE 1CS-A06); Wed., May 24 (CODE 1CS-B06); Thurs., May 25 (CODE 1CS-C06); all tours 8:30–11:30 a.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $75

A Mountain Rail Extravaganza

The Cass Scenic Railroad and Other West Virginia Excursions

All aboard for an exciting rail journey through West Virginia’s breathtaking mountain scenery. Led by railroad historian Joe Nevin, this multi-day tour features three rail excursions, including a climb behind the geared steam locomotive of the Cass Scenic Railroad to the top of the second-highest point in the state.

Friday’s route descends into the scenic Shenandoah Valley before turning west into the region known as “Virginia’s Switzerland.” Continue west to the town of Durbin, West Virginia, and have lunch before a chartered trip on the last remaining 10 miles of the track along the upper Greenbrier River that once connected Durbin with Cass.

Saturday begins with a tour of the historic lumber town buildings and remnants of the great mills that once filled the valley. In Cass, board your train for an afternoon excursion (including an onboard lunch) to Bald Knob overlook, where a large platform offers panoramic views into two states and the Allegheny Mountains. On Sunday, visit the West Virginia Railroad Museum, where a specialized collection of memorabilia and railroad equipment tells the story of the state’s rail heritage. Then take your seat on the New Tygart Flyer for lunch and a fourhour round trip before returning to the station for your journey home.

Fri., June 2, 7:30 a.m.–Sun., June 4, 8:45 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-MRE; Members $850; Nonmembers $1,050

The Urban Geology of the National Mall

Washington, D.C.’s National Mall provides a world-class showcase for a diverse collection of American architectural styles, landscape design and use and building stones. Join geologist Kenneth Rasmussen on a 3-mile walking tour that views structures on the Mall built from igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock formed during roughly 3.5 billion years of Earth’s history and erected during 220 years of American history.

Rasmussen discusses the rocks’ origin, age, and significance, as well as the engineering, aesthetic, and political reasons for their selection and placement. He sets the Mall’s evolution in geological and architectural context and traces roughly 230 years of design in buildings and monuments created from 1791 to the present, including recent flood-mitigation efforts in view of projected sea-level rise.

Thurs., June 8, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-004; Members $105; Nonmembers $125

Exploring the Historic C&O Canal

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was the brainchild of George Washington, who dreamed of creating an inland waterway to ferry goods between the Ohio River and Chesapeake Bay. Washington didn’t live long enough to see it come to fruition in 1828, but the C&O Canal touched many lives during the almost 100 years it was in use.

The canal’s colorful history is the focus of this excursion, guided by Aidan Barnes, director of programs and partnerships for the C&O Canal Trust, along with other Trust and Park staff. Participants also get a close-up view of the canal’s stunning natural features, tour a rehabilitated lockhouse, and learn about the lives of the lockkeepers, boat captains, and laborers who lived and worked along the canal.

Fri., June 2, 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD014; Members $145; Nonmembers $195

The Distinctive Birds of Western Maryland

Habitats in the Wild

High elevation and precipitation levels in the mountains of Garrett County, Maryland, create avian habitats that closely resemble those found hundreds of miles farther north—providing birdwatchers an opportunity to observe a myriad of nesting species typically found in New England and Canada. Join naturalists and birding leaders Matt Felperin and Joley Sullivan for a full day of exploration in the Maryland panhandle region bordering Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

As you travel west on I-68, enjoy strategic stops along the way at distinctive habitats that host Henslow’s sparrows, bobolinks, grasshopper sparrows, black-billed cuckoos, and golden-winged, blue-winged, and cerulean warblers.

Then head to Garrett County’s New Germany State Park, a mountain gem filled with diverse forests and miles of trails, where you’ll be on the lookout for many species of warblers, red crossbills, and rose-breasted grosbeaks—and salamanders. The day ends at the Finzel Swamp Preserve near Frostburg, where you can watch for ruffed grouse, Nashville warblers, broad-winged hawks, and Alder flycatchers in this unique ecosystem.

Sat., June 3, 5 a.m.–7 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-003; Members $185; Nonmembers $235

Giants in the Sky: Mighty Military Aircraft

Join pilot and transportation expert Scott Hercik to go behind the scenes at Dover Air Force Base and on board the giant aircraft that carry soldiers and their supplies around the world.

The day begins by delving into the base’s history of hosting training, antisubmarine, fighter, bomber, and transport aircraft, including the state-of-the-art C-17 Globemaster III and C-5M Super Galaxy. A tour of the base includes a climb high into the control tower. Meet with leaders of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, whose responsibility is the dignified return of the remains of Department of Defense personnel and dependents from overseas operations. After a luncheon with some of the men and women who keep the Air Force’s magnificent giants flying, explore the Air Mobility Command Museum, home to vintage aircraft and the largest military airplane in any museum in the world. Explore prop, turbo-prop, and jet aircraft and climb aboard the C-141 Starlifter.

Thurs., June 8, 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. by bus; CODE 1CD-015; detailed tour information on website; Members $170; Nonmembers $220

In the Footsteps of Activists

Looking at D.C. History From an LGBTQ+ Perspective

Long before the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming the right to same-sex marriage, Washington, D.C., was a place where LGBTQ+ history was made. Join A Tour of Her Own tour leaders to explore feminist history through a queer lens in the nation’s capital.

As you walk through downtown neighborhoods filled with theaters, street art, and historic locations, stop to hear stories of defiance, resistance, and triumph at sites that include Black Lives Matter Plaza, the White House, and Ford’s Theatre.

THREE OPTIONS: Sat., June 17, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. (CODE 1CS-A07); Sun., June 18, 4–6 p.m. (CODE 1CS-B07); and Fri., June 23, 6–8 p.m. (CODE 1CS-C07); detailed tour information on website; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

A Berkshires Summer Sampler

A popular summer retreat for Bostonians and New Yorkers for well over 150 years, the scenic and historic Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts are alive with music, art, and theater. Arts journalist Richard Selden leads a five-day tour that offers a splendid sampling of cultural attractions in the region, from writers’ historic homes to outstanding museums to music and theater performances.

Destinations with literary connections include Herman Melville’s evocative Pittsfield farmhouse, Arrowhead, and Edith Wharton’s elegant Lenox estate, The Mount.

Visit the Clark Art Institute in picture-perfect Williamstown; MASS MoCA, a collection of contemporary galleries in a 16-acre former industrial complex; and the first-rate art museums at Williams College and Yale University. Be part of the audience at two intimate chamber music venues, Music Mountain in western Connecticut and Yellow Barn in Putney, Vermont, as well as for a performance of Blues for an Alabama Sky at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Edith Wharton’s The Mount

Sun., July 30, 6:30 a.m.–Thurs., Aug. 3, 9:30 p.m.; CODE 1CN-BER; detailed tour information on website; Members $2,050; Nonmembers $2,735