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Fact or Fiction: The two most popular residents of the Smithsonian Castle were two barn owls, named Increase and Diffusion. Photo courtesy of flickr user Metal Chris.

Towards the beginning of his new thriller The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown introduces his main character Peter Solomon, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Peter’s phone number is mentioned twice in two pages (a detail that struck this reader as odd). And if by chance you should happen to call the number, as I did, your call will go directly to a hauntingly realistic voicemail—“Hello. You’ve reached Peter Solomon….”

Typical Dan Brown.

The bestselling writer is notorious for blurring the boundary between fact and fiction, and his latest book is no exception. The Smithsonian plays a dominant role in the plot. A major character works at the Smithsonian’s Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland. The true-life address of that facility is even revealed. And he includes brief forays into the architecture and history of the Castle and the story of founder James Smithson.

So naturally (the magazine has schooled me well in fact checking), I thought I’d look into some of the details included in the book. How accurately did Brown describe the Smithsonian?

Fact or fiction?

1.Dan Brown asserts that the Museum Support Center, a storage center for objects in the Smithsonian collection not on display, houses more pieces than the Hermitage, the Vatican Museum and the New York Metropolitan, combined.

Fact: The MSC houses 55 million objects and specimens. Some quick sleuthing on the web sites of the Hermitage, the Vatican Museum and the Met reveal that the total number of objects in their collections, combined, is less than 10 million.

2.  In the story, the MSC is a zigzag-shaped building and includes five connected pods—each larger than a football field.

Fact: Each pod is three stories high, and in addition to the pods, there is a wing with labs and offices. The pods are referred to by number, as Brown does in the book, but he took some liberties with their uses.

Fact or Fiction: The "wet pod" in the Smithsonian's Museum Support Center contains over 20,000 species. Photo courtesy of flickr user ap2il.

3.  The “wet pod,” with its many jarred specimen, houses over 20,000 species.

Fact (sort of): The operative word here is “over.” Brown was a little off. I checked in with MSC. Try about 212,000 species.

4.  The MSC contains, in its holdings, poisoned darts from New Guinea, handwritten codices, a kayak made of baleen and extinct flowers.

Fiction: This may be splitting hairs, but a source at the MSC says that Brown was shown poison darts from Ecuador on the tour he took of the facility in April 2008. They have a few blowgun darts from New Guinea, but they do not know if they are poisoned. Also, some handwritten Islamic and Buddhist manuscripts, prayer books and Korans, all from the 19^th and 20^th centuries, are kept there. But they don’t really fit the definition of a codex. The facility reports having no kayaks made completely of baleen and says that extinct flowers are kept in the herbarium at the National Museum of Natural History. He did, however, get it right in saying that the MSC has meteorites, a collection of elephant skulls brought back from an African safari by Teddy Roosevelt and Sitting Bull’s pictographic diary.

5.  Only two percent of the Smithsonian’s collection can be displayed in the museums at any given time; the MSC stores the other 98 percent.

Fiction: The Smithsonian, as a whole, displays less than two percent of its collection, estimated at the end of 2008 to be 136.8 million items. And the MSC stores more like 40 percent of the collection, while the rest of the objects not on display are housed behind-the-scenes in the museums (about 58 percent at the Natural History museum) or other off-site storage facilities.

6.  The Smithsonian Castle, located on the National Mall, is a blend of Gothic and late Romanesque architecture—basically, a quintessential Norman castle, like those found in England at about the 12^th century.

Partly Fiction: Though influenced by the Gothic, Romanesque and Norman styles, the building is a 19^th century hybrid, a romanticized Victorian era mix that was meant to be a new “national style” of architecture, according to Richard Stamm, curator of the Castle collection.

7.  The Castle once had two resident owls, named Diffusion and Increase.

Fact: Secretary S. Dillon Ripley (1964-84) had a pair of barn owls housed in one of the towers. He hoped that they would produce offspring (increase), explains Stamm. They did, but they “flew the coop” (diffusion) when the windows were opened to let the owls fend for themselves. Ripley named the adult pair Increase and Diffusion in reference to the Smithsonian’s mission, “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”

Interested in more about Dan Brown’s Washington? Read about the Masonic temple that features heavily in the novel.

The news team from CNN uses Perceptive Pixel's interactive mapping tool. Photo courtesy of Perceptive Pixel

A 10th anniversary is at hand. The Cooper-Hewitt’s much vaunted National Design Awards turns 10. To celebrate, the New York City-based museum is bringing to Washington, D.C., a number of free public programs, featuring guest appearances from some of this year’s award winners, design mavens such as Calvin Klein’s Francisco Costa and Bill Moggridge of the smart global design studio IDEO. Look for opportunities to meet with the designers between 10 AM to 11 AM on Friday, July 24 at various Smithsonian museums around the Mall and a number of others throughout the city.

• Francisco Costa, this year’s Fashion Design winner, and Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown, this year’s Interior Design winners, will talk about the function of materials in their work at the Corcoran College of Art & Design. Costa, currently the creative director of the Calvin Klein Collection for women, has worked with such design houses as Gucci and Oscar de la Renta. Tsao and Mckown are the partners of TsAO & McKOWN Architects, a firm known for blending architecture and interior design. Free, but registration is required at www.corcoran.org.
• Architecture and Landscape are much more than buildings and trees. Design has the power to influence communities. Walter Hood, Landscape Design winner, and Gregg Pasquarelli, of Architecture Design winner, SHoP Architects, will talk about how design can unite, create and transform communities at the National Building Museum. SHoP Architects has incorporated software design and branding into their projects worldwide. Hood designs based on the people and the location to ensure spaces are stable and functional. Free, but registration is required at www.nbm.org.
• Current events can influence a lot, and design is no exception. This year’s winners in Product Design, Boym Partners, and in Communication Design, The New York Times Graphic Department, use current events in two very different ways. The Boym Partners, whose work is featured in the Museum of Modern Art, humorously interpret current events while the Graphics Department has to quickly understand and distill the information. Hear the Boym Partners and Steve Duenes, The Time’s graphics director, discuss their influences at the Smithsonian Castle.
• This year’s award winners in Interaction Design, Perceptive Pixel Inc., and in Corporate and Institutional Achievement, Minnesota’s Walker Art Center, are design leaders. In the 2008 election, major networks used interactive mapping technology created by Perceptive Pixel Inc. The Walker Art Center features an in-house design studio that has won more than 100 awards. Jeff Han, founder of Perceptive Pixel, and Andrew Blauvelt, curator and design director of the Walker Art Center, will talk about the future of interaction design relating to technology creation and its place in museums at the Hirshhorn Museum.
• Amory Lovins, this year’s Design Mind winner, and Bill Moggridge, this year’s Lifetime Achievement recipient will discuss the future of technology and sustainability at the National Museum of the American Indian. Lovins co-founded the Rocky Mountain Institute and has been a prominent voice in sustainable thinking for decades. Moggridge co-founded IDEO, a global design consulting firm, and helped design what many consider the first laptop computer, the GRiD Compass.

See the designers’ works in this photo gallery.

A ride at the Virginia State Fair by Gordon Stillman, the Americana category winner

In 2003, Smithsonian magazine launched its first photo contest, which garnered 12,000 entries from all over the world and the contest has since been a forum for people to share their artistic vision with us. Last week, an exhibition of the 50 finalists’ eye-popping entries opened at the Smithsonian Castle Building.

“We enjoy a rich dialogue with our readers within the magazine’s pages and on our Web site,” says Smithsonian magazine editor-in-chief Carey Winfrey, “and this contest is a perfect example of how we both inspire and in turn take inspiration from our enthusiastic Smithsonian community.”

This year, our 6th annual photo contest garnered an amazing 17,000 entries. Fifty finalists in five categories—Americana, Altered Images, The Natural World, People and Travel—were selected and we are pleased to announce each of the category winners as well as the Grand Prize winner and the Readers’ Choice winner, who was selected via online voting earlier this year. The Readers’ Choice and other category winners each received $500. One grand prize winner received a four-day, three-night Smithsonian Journeys Grand Canyon Weekend Adventure for two, or the wholesale cash equivalent.

The exhibition, World View: Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest, on view in the Smithsonian Castle through January 17, 2010, features all seven winning photographs, as well as 23 selected finalist photographs.

And don’t forget: we are accepting submissions for our 7th photo contest through December 1, 2009.

The texting craze, photo courtesy of flickr user Brandon Christopher Warren

Back in January, the New York Post reported that a 13-year-old girl in Silverado Canyon, California, sent 14,528 text messages in one month. (The average number of texts per month for 13- to 17-year-old cell phone users is 1,742.) And in March, two Pennsylvania men attempted to set a world text-messaging record. Combined, they sent 217,000 in a month, beating the previous record, set by a man in India in 2005, by 35,000.

Can u say adctd2txt?

Well, Smithsonian Connections, a heritage trail of sorts to the Smithsonian, connecting events and exhibitions at all the museums through a single topic, noticed the trend and has decided to use it to its advantage. Cant beatm joinm, rite?

Connections has launched “Text President Lincoln,” a program that allows Smithsonian museum visitors to text “ABE” and have him guide them through some of his favorite objects and trivia. (Parents: maybe this is how you can get your tweens to interact with the artifacts.)

Here’s how it works. If you are at:

National Air and Space Museum, text “ABE 1″ to 95495.

National Museum of American History, text “ABE 2″ to 95495.

Smithsonian American Art Museum or the National Portrait Gallery, text “ABE 3″ to 95495.

Smithsonian Castle, text “ABE 4″ to 95495.

National Postal Museum, text “ABE 5″ to 95495.

Or visit Smithsonian Connections’ W3* for more information.

* Web site

Hawaii, from the United States Series (1949) by Geraldine P. Clark. Image courtesy of the American Art Museum.

Friday, June 12: Dimitre Cantemir: A Life in Music

Not a fan of today’s over-sexualized, pyrotechnic-laden popular music performances? For those of you longing for the music of a simpler—but nonetheless glorious—age, come on out to the Freer where you can enjoy the hit parade of the Ottoman Empire! In a lecture studded with musical performances by Lux Musica, learn about Dimitre Cantemir (1673-1723), a man of letters and a musicologist who had the presence of mind to document contemporary Ottoman music, ensuring their survival. He was also quite an accomplished composer himself, with approximately 350 pieces to his credit. Free. Freer, 1:00 PM. This event repeats on Saturday, June 13 at the Freer at 2:30 PM.

Saturday, June 13: Garden Fest 2009

This time of year, I love hanging out in the Enid A. Haupt Garden (it’s the big formal one behind the Castle). So what if allergies get the better of me—it’s an absolutely beautiful space in which to spend the lunch hour. It’s also the perfect home to the Smithsonian Horticulture Division’s third annual Garden Fest. Suitable for green thumbs of all ages, come enjoy events such as lectures and demonstrations from museum experts on garden-related fun as well as musical performances by the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra. (Yes, they pride themselves on the fact that they grow their own instruments.) Check out the Garden Fest website for more information. Free. Enid A. Haupt Garden, outside the Smithsonian Castle. 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM

Sunday, June 14: Celebrate Hawai’i: 2-Day Family Festival (Saturday June 13 and Sunday June 14)

Summertime is coming ’round the bend, so you’re sure to get an eyeful of people in Hawaiian shirts (good, bad and mind-numbingly hideous). But how much do you really know about Hawaii except that it’s the land of leis, ukuleles and ice cream served atop red beans? (If you watch Rick Sebak’s An Ice Cream Show, people obviously enjoy the culinary combo.) Learn something a little more substantial about that beautiful chain of islands and the rich culture of the people thereon in this day-long celebration. Enjoy fashion shows, dancing, movie screenings, games, lei making, weaving and textile designing. Not able to make it out today? The festival also occurs on Saturday, June 13. Free. American Indian Museum, 10:30 AM-5:00 PM

To plan your visit or learn more about events and exhibitions at the Smithsonian, go to our companion site, goSmithsonian.com.

I tuned in to American Idol last night, waiting on bated breath to hear whether Danny Gokey or Kris Allen (Adam Lambert was a shoo-in) would be moving on to next week’s finals. But instead of squeaky clean Ryan Seacrest, Ben Stiller was the first to grace the screen. Soon joined by fellow Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian actors Hank Azaria, Bill Hader (of SNL) and Jonah Hill (of Superbad), Stiller announced that the American Idol judges’ desk is on its way to the Smithsonian. (It will go on view later this summer at the Smithsonian Castle Building, sometime after next week’s finale.) Of course, the stars couldn’t pass up the opportunity to poke fun at easy targets Simon, Paula, Randy and Kara. Check it out:

Portrait of Leontyne Price in Porgy and Bess (1953) by Carl van Vechten. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Monday, February 2: Nothing Special

There’s nothing special planned for you today, so come on out and enjoy the collections at any of the museums. Just please, keep off the grass and don’t feed the volunteers working the Information Desk.

Tuesday, February 3: Buddy Holly: The Day the Music Died

Buddy Holly was a rock n’ roll pioneer whose life was tragically cut short in a 1959 plane crash that also took fellow trailblazers Ritchie Valens (”La Bamba“, “Donna“) and the Big Bopper (”Chantilly Lace“). Though he was only 22, he left behind a musical legacy that still draws admirers. Come out to the Natural History Museum to enjoy J.P. Mcermott’s musical tribute to the man who gave us rockabilly standards like “That’ll Be the Day,” “Peggy Sue” and “Maybe Baby.” So, if you only know Holly in passing by way of that wonderfully infectious Weezer song or Don McLean’s loving homage, you owe it to yourself to check out his work. Tickets are required. Rates are: $30 Members; $40 General Admission. National Museum of Natural History, 6:45 PM.

*Note: Due to the high popularity of this event, there is currently a wait list for seats. Please call the Registration Office at 202-633-3030 to place your name on the wait list.

Wednesday, February 4: At the Elbows of My Elders: One Family’s Journey Toward Civil Rights

Celebrate black history month by coming to hear author Gail Melissa Grant tell stories about her family’s life in America—from working on the railroad to her father’s work as a civil rights activist in St. Louis. Free. Smithsonian Castle. 6:30 PM

Thursday, February 5: A Portrait of Porgy

In my humble opinion, Porgy and Bess is the greatest love story set to music—when performed well, it has me scrambling for the Kleenex box (usually during “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” and “I Loves You Porgy“). The man who originated the role of Porgy—the misanthropic cripple redeemed through the love he shares with Bess, a prostitute—is Todd Duncan, a classically trained performer who taught music at Howard University here in DC. A Portrait of Porgy is a dramatic piece written by Jewell Robinson and features performances by Alvy Powell and Janice Chandler Eteme that explores Duncan’s life as well as the story of how Porgy and Bess came to be. Free. National Portrait Gallery, 7 PM. Repeats February 6 and 7.

*Note: For the big Gershwin fans out there, check out the Library of Congress‘ permanent exhibition on George and Ira, which includes pianos, sheet music, correspondence and handwritten librettos—including pieces from Porgy and Bess.

Friday, Februay 6: Buh Rabbit and Friends

I grew up with the Br’er Rabbit stories. (And after all these years I still have my Br’er Rabbit read-along book and tape, based on the infamous 1946 film Song of the South. Though the movie definitely has some issues—and as a whole it’s a middling film—it features some of the best animation I’ve seen from this studio. Also, seeing 12-year-old Bobby Driscoll getting gored by a bull is pretty freaking awesome for a Disney movie.) While that cannon of folk tales has plenty of detractors, I contend that Br’er Rabbit is one of the savviest characters in popular mythology this side of Odysseus. So come and listen to these timeless songs and stories of the Gullah people of the Georgia Sea Islands. Tickets are required. Rates are: $6 for adults; $5 for children (ages 2-16); $4 for Resident Associate Program Members. Discovery Theater, 10:15 AM and 11:30 AM. Repeats February 13, 20 and 27.

Why are we Around the Mall bloggers so excited about the upcoming Dreamworks 20th Century Fox film, Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian, set to be released next May? It’s all about ego. Here we have an opportunity to sit in a darkened theater and nitpick over all the inaccuracies.

So, let’s kick things off a little early by looking at some publicity photos, shall we?

Ben Stiller as Larry Daley

First up, Ben Stiller (above) striking a dramatic pose in—um, what museum is this again? Is that The Thinker? We have lots of lovely Rodin pieces, but this isn’t one of them. (You can, however, see a miniature version of this figure in Rodin’s architectural study for The Gates of Hell at the Hirshhorn.) The National Gallery of Art has a casting of The Thinker, but theirs is a little guy—only a couple feet tall, and that museum, to be really picky, isn’t a Smithsonian museum. Oh, and that big gold ball thing in the background on the left is Jack by Paul Feeley. It is owned by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and currently displayed on the 3rd floor.

Next up: Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart.

Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart

Adams is looking pretty darn cute here—but there’s something about that ‘do that doesn’t set well with me. It is physically impossible for bubble curls to survive the stress of a flying cap. If Adams is too good for “hat hair,” I can’t believe in the character. It’s a vision of Amelia by way of Barbie. (Hillary Swank dons a more realistic, rugged look in the upcoming biopic of the 20th-century aviatrix.) Meanwhile, the facsimile of Earhart’s Lockheed Vega, which you can find in the Air and Space Museum’s Pioneers of Flight gallery, looks spot-on.

Bill Hader and Ben Stiller

And then there’s Custer. He’s looking pretty good here, like he leaped out one of the Matthew Brady photograph in the National Portrait Gallery collections. I’m just wondering if his white buckskin coat, owned by the Museum of American History, is going to make an appearance.

There also seems to be a really Egypt-heavy story arc woven into the film. There is a very nice ancient Egyptian art collection at the Freer Gallery of Art.

There is also a sarcophagus—it houses the not-mummified remains of founder James Smithson and can be seen at the Smithsonian Castle.

But the Smithsonian does not have anything pertaining to a pharaoh by the name of the Kamunrah, the movie’s villain, mainly because the character is pure fabrication.

Hmm, for someone who enjoys movies as much as I do, you’d think I’d be able to suspend my disbelief a little better.

All well-intended nitpicking aside, we really are excited about the upcoming film and we plan on providing more coverage. What Smithsonian artifacts do you hope to see in the movie?