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.

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A square of interwoven sticks and cowrie shells

Navigating the Waters with Micronesian Stick Charts

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

William Dampier - The Pirate Who Collected Plants

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.

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History & Cultures Articles

A square of interwoven sticks and cowrie shells

Navigating the Waters with Micronesian Stick Charts

Aerial view of two bowhead whales swimming in the ocean.

Bowhead Whale: One Species at a Time

Illustration of a giant squid versus a merman.

From Mermen to Architeuthis, Our Fascination with the Giant Squid

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

Prints from Ernst Haeckel

Master carver Douglas Chilton rides in the Raven Spirit canoe at its ceremonial launch.

Raven Spirit: A Native American Canoe's Journey

A map of the early European whaling site at Hare Harbor in Quebec, Canada

Archaeologists Investigate an Early Whaling Community

a group of men in kayaks

A Kayak's Origin Story

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

Screenshot from video of a diver swimming with an underwater camera.

The Trouvadore: A Story of Deliverance

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Misty Smith