Exploring the Smithsonian: A Journey into History, Culture, Science, and Innovation

The Visionary at the Helm: Lonnie G. Bunch III

Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian, has dedicated his life and work to the institution that holds a special place in his heart. With over seven thousand dedicated public servants shaping the Smithsonian, Bunch emphasizes the significance of their collective efforts in understanding and interpreting the nation's history, art, and culture.

Bunch's journey with the Smithsonian began in 1978, where he worked at the National Air and Space Museum. After a brief departure to become curator of history and program manager at the California African American Museum, he returned in 1989 as supervisory curator at the National Museum of American History. His visionary leadership continued as president of the Chicago Historical Society before he once again returned to the Smithsonian, this time as executive director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which would later open its doors on the National Mall in 2016. For over five years as the Smithsonian's Secretary, Bunch has navigated multiple presidential administrations, the Covid-19 pandemic, and now the planning for the 250th anniversary of America's Declaration of Independence.

"One of the reasons I agreed to become Secretary years ago was because of my profound respect for the amazing work of my colleagues," says Bunch. He goes on to describe the Smithsonian as a collective of exceptional individuals whose work, despite being sometimes undervalued, is seen by Bunch as essential to a nation understanding itself.

As Bunch notes, the Smithsonian will always be at the heart of what America is. In a wide-ranging interview with Smithsonian magazine, he reflects on the state of the Institution and its evolving role in handling new presidential administrations, addressing climate change, and harnessing the power of the iconic pandas.

Navigating Transitions of Power

"I think there's two different things: First of all, when I was a curator, I curated the 'American Presidency' show at [the National Museum of] American History, so that [with] every new administration, several things kick in automatically. You expand an exhibition, you collect materials from the inauguration, you also obviously collect the first lady's gown. So there's a process that we've done for generations. The other thing is recognizing that the Smithsonian is a great source, a great reservoir for new administrations, whether it's new members of Congress, whether it's new people who are coming in, that the Smithsonian gives them that place to dip into history, to art, to culture. So basically, the Smithsonian sees itself as both servants to new administrations, but also the consistent place that you can always count on."

Decoding the Complexities of Modern History

As a historian, Bunch offers his insights on the current era marked by high social and political polarization. "I just got back yesterday from a big historical conference, and as you can imagine, there are a lot of conversations about the uniqueness of this moment. [Some historians say,] 'It's no different than what happened in 1964, no different than what happened in 1862.' That's what we historians do. I think that what this tells us is that every administration is about change. Sometimes it's modest change; sometimes it's great change. Part of what is interesting to us, as historians, is to [ask]: Is this really one of those moments where there's a profound shift?"

"We will see where America will come out at the end of this, but there's no doubt that [the election result] was about different ways of thinking. It's about a fundamental challenge between those who believe America's a work in progress and is continuing to try to live up to those ideals, versus those who believe that we've had moments where we really were where America should be and now how do we return back to them? So I think that's the challenge. And I think as a historian, as an institution, part of what is interesting is to document that and be able to interpret that going forward in the future."

Facilitating Unity Amidst Diversity

"It's really clear that the Smithsonian, by its very nature, is always nonpartisan. It is always driven by the best scholarship. But it's important to recognize that if you explore art, history, culture, science—by definition, you're going to deal with controversy. By definition, you're going to deal with multiple points of view. So to create the notion that the Smithsonian will never be involved in controversy is a wonderful dream, but it's just a dream."

"What we try to do is make sure that we understand multiple points of view, that we understand the best scholarship that shapes that. ... The goal here is never, ever to create a sense of self-censorship in the Smithsonian, but the goal is to recognize that the Smithsonian has to educate a whole lot of people, some who believe exactly in the interpretations you do, others who are diametrically opposed, and you've got to be able to serve both."

"So that's part of the challenge, is to make sure that you are grappling with art, history, culture and science in a way that even if you have debates, that people recognize that you're cognizant of those debates, but that ultimately you're making choices, interpretations based on scholarship, based on understanding the tension between scholarship and the public. Understanding that the joy of the Smithsonian is to give the public both what it wants, but also what it needs. That means that the Smithsonian will always be walking a tightrope, but that's OK, because our job is to educate, to challenge, to make a nation better. And that's not easy, and we shouldn't be doing what's easy."

Countering the "Death of Expertise"

"The good thing to keep in mind is that the Smithsonian is still a highly trusted source. And in some ways, the expertise of the Smithsonian is really part of the tools that people will use to say: Expertise is important. That just because you have an idea, and I have an idea, they're not always equal. They're equally valid, but they're not always equal. I believe very strongly in the importance of expertise, the power of expertise, the need for expertise. But I also believe that the best expertise understands the non-experts' point of view. I always argue that I became a much better historian of America, of Black America, when I began to learn the living community, not just the historical."

"And that meant that you had to find ways to negotiate, to demonstrate where the expertise comes, but also to be smart enough to know that expertise comes from all corners, and that as a scholar, you want to learn from a variety of points of view. That's really the key: to make sure that scholars who understand a point of view ... [also] understand that point of view is made better when you listen and learn, and make determinations based on a variety of issues. But the most important thing is: We have to believe that expertise is important when it comes to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. And we will always stand on that."

Addressing Public Distrust in Institutions

"In some ways we already have. When people look at this, when you look at those surveys, I read them very carefully. It's cultural institutions and the Smithsonian [that] are still the most trusted. What happens, though, is there's always a debate about what does it mean to be 'federal,' right? When I was building the African American Museum, there was a lot of chatter that you couldn't build a museum that told the truth if you're part of the federal government, but I think I demonstrated you can do that. It's really incumbent upon us to demonstrate that we listen and learn, [and] that we really do also believe in the kind of expertise that comes from these institutions. Almost every day, you have to prove your worth."

"When I was a curator at the American History Museum, we always recognized that our job was to challenge ourselves, to learn more from our audiences, to make sure that the work we do matters not just to us. In essence, I would argue that what's important for the Smithsonian is to remember that science, art, history, culture are too important just to be in the hands of those that are experts, that it really has to be shared and made better by the interaction with a variety of people. That's the wonderful tension of working in a place like the Smithsonian, that you have the expertise, but that expertise has to be shared, and you have to be made better by the response to that expertise."

Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

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