History & Cultures | Smithsonian Ocean

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

The Cook islands banknote

Sharks and Humans

Explore the love-hate relationship between humans and sharks.

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A square of interwoven sticks and cowrie shells

Article

Navigating the Waters with Micronesian Stick Charts

two images cropped together of women at desks facing each other

Timeline

An Irrepressible Wave

Divers at a shipwreck site

Article

Wood Under Sand: The Search for A Slave Shipwreck

A walrus sits on top of ice.

Article

The Cultural Icescapes of the Arctic

Scientists are finding ways to preserve and study sunken warships

Video

Battle of the Atlantic

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

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History & Cultures Articles

Narwhals with their long unicorn-like tusks.

Article

Native Knowledge of the Narwhal

a red and white fish illustration

Article

Kako Morita: Bridging Art and Science Through Natural History Illustrations

An albatross soars over the ocean.

Article

Is It Love? Why Some Ocean Animals (Sort Of) Mate For Life

The siphonophores are an order of marine animals in the phylum Cnidaria (the same phylum containing jellyfish).

Slideshow

Prints from Ernst Haeckel

A screenshot of the launch of the Raven Spirit canoe.

Video

The Official Canoe Launch

Colorful fireworks go off over the water.

Article

From Sea to Shining Sea

An arrow-worm from the genus Spadella. Alvariño discovered and classified the species Spadella gaetanoi in 1978.

Article

Ángeles Alvariño: Woman of Many Namesakes

two images cropped together of women at desks facing each other

Timeline

An Irrepressible Wave

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.

Slideshow

Discoveries in Australia and New Guinea

This portrait of William Dampier hangs in London’s National Gallery in recognition of his contribution to natural history.

Article

William Dampier - The Pirate Who Collected Plants

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System consists of the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, offshore atolls, and several hundred sand cays, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons, and estuaries. The system's seven sites illustrate the evolutionary h

Article

Charles Darwin's Ocean Upwelling

Black men dredge for oysters in a boat

Article

The Bay of Opportunity and Hope