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With over 15 million visitors a year, the Smithsonian Institution is one
of the nation's most popular tourist attractions, and now its World Wide
Web site (http://www.si.edu/),
which receives thousands of "visitors" every day, is proving to be one of
the more popular sites on the Internet. There is so much to see at the virtual Smithsonian, that it is hard to know where to start. The National Air and Space Museum (http://www.nasm.edu/), which is the busiest Smithsonian museum in the "real" world, offers many virtual treasures to the Internet tourist. Its "Milestones of Flight" exhibition contain many stunning photographs, among them are the Apollo 11 Command Module, the 1903 Wright Flyer, the "Enola Gay," and Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis." The Museum of American Art (http://www.nmaa.si.edu/) provides a vast array of resources to art lovers. The site's graphical gallery tours include hundreds of artworks. Selected works from the Museum's collection are pictured, along with a short synopsis of each work and the artist. One can even download digital reproductions of paintings by famous American artists such as Mary Cassatt, George Catlin, and Winslow Homer. The Smithsonian Web has a most interesting "FAQ" section-a feature it calls "Encyclopedia Smithsonian" (http://www.si.edu/welcome /faq/start.htm/). The Smithsonian Institution receives a great many public inquiries covering a wide range of topics and the "Encyclopedia Smithsonian" was created to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. The "Encyclopedia Smithsonian" can provide you with a complete history of Cher Ami, the heroic World War I carrier pigeon, answer almost any question you could possibly have about the American Flag, and provide you with facts about the Hope Diamond, Foucault's Pendulum, and the Stradivarius Violin; it even gives you hints on storing antique textiles at home! No trip to the Smithsonian is complete without a visit to one of its gift shops, and with the Smithsonian Web even the virtual tourist can indulge in some shopping pleasure. The site's "Shopping Mall" (http://www.si.edu/products/sh opmall/) allows visitors to browse the Institution's vast array of toys, books, clothes, and CDs. Online ordering is not available yet, but an 800 number is provided for those interested in ordering by phone. For assistance in connecting to the World Wide Web via UB computer accounts, contact the Computing Center's Help Desk at 645-3542. -Gemma DeVinney and Don Hartman, University Libraries
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