Canoe hulls on a sandy shore are painted with traditional Alaskan figures.

History & Cultures

The Cook islands banknote

Sharks and Humans

Explore the love-hate relationship between humans and sharks.

Read More

Featured Content

A square of interwoven sticks and cowrie shells

Navigating the Waters with Micronesian Stick Charts

two images cropped together of women at desks facing each other

An Irrepressible Wave

Divers at a shipwreck site

Wood Under Sand: The Search for A Slave Shipwreck

A walrus sits on top of ice.

The Cultural Icescapes of the Arctic

Scientists are finding ways to preserve and study sunken warships

Battle of the Atlantic

Are You An Educator?

At Smithsonian Ocean, we have lesson plans, activities, and resources to help you engage your students in the wonders of our oceans.

see all lesson plans see lesson plans about oral traditions

History & Cultures Articles

A screenshot of the launch of the Raven Spirit canoe.

The Official Canoe Launch

A screenshot from the video of a carver using traditional tools to shape a canoe.

Carver Douglas Chilton at Work

Illustration of a giant squid versus a merman.

From Mermen to Architeuthis, Our Fascination with the Giant Squid

the titanic underwater

The Titanic Wrecksite

Colorful fireworks go off over the water.

From Sea to Shining Sea

Dampier explored this area of Western Australia and named it Shark Bay because of the "abundance" of sharks in the waters. It is now a World Heritage site.

Around the World Again...and Again

During what is known as the Golden Age of Piracy, pirates reaped great rewards—and, if they were caught, faced terrible punishments. Here are some of the most legendary pirates of that time.

Pirates of the Golden Age

As soon as Dampier set foot in Australia, he began making observations and collecting specimens of plants, which he carefully pressed between the pages of books to be studied by the “ingenious” and “curious” upon his return to England. As Dampier conducted his investigations, his artist made detailed sketches like these.

Discoveries in Australia and New Guinea

The "Lower Invertebrates" exhibit in Smithsonian Institution Building in 1901 included models of a giant squid and an octopus.

Still Blue After a Century of Ocean Science and Exploration

Aerial view of two bowhead whales swimming in the ocean.

Bowhead Whale: One Species at a Time

Scientists are finding ways to preserve and study sunken warships

Battle of the Atlantic

an old image of the sea coast

Ocean Acidification in the Puget Sound

Banner Credit

Misty Smith