Smithsonian Magazine Special Issue: America at 250—The Revolutionary Spark

Smithsonian Magazine has published a special issue titled "The Revolutionary Spark" to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The issue explores the visionary insights and innovations that shaped the United States, from George Washington's signing of the Patent Act of 1790 to modern breakthroughs. It features contributions from writers, historians, photographers, and artists, including Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, historian H.W. Brands, novelist Geraldine Brooks, chef Michael Twitty, historian David Blight, and Peter Salk. Topics range from Benjamin Franklin's innovations, the polio vaccine, and Georgia O'Keeffe's painting to the birth of American cuisine, the Cherokee syllabary, and the origins of hip-hop. The issue also includes original artwork by Victoria Maxfield, Tim O'Brien, Addison Green, and Ibrahim Rayintakath. Sections are organized around the founding principles of life, liberty, and happiness, covering science, medicine, conservation, space exploration, education, civil rights, music, literature, technology, and more.