Smithsonian Expeditions
Exploring Latin America & the Caribbean
Smithsonian scientists have long traveled the globe in their quest for knowledge. For more than 150 years they have led countless expeditions throughout the Americas. These dedicated explorers worked with their partners in Latin America and the Caribbean on scientific missions that resulted in the birth of our nation's first and foremost natural history collections. Some of the artifacts from these collections have not been seen by the public for nearly a century.

The First Explorers
Much of the Smithsonian's earliest natural history and archaeological collections came from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. Many early pioneers originally traveled to these areas on diplomatic or economic missions. They were fascinated by the people and places they encountered and soon became involved in research and building the collections of the National Museum. Through their contacts in these countries they were able to obtain a great variety of plants, animals and fossils and cultural objects. These artifacts express the richness of the natural and cultural worlds of our Latin American and Caribbean neighbors. The contributions of these first explorers to the natural history, archaeology and anthropology of these regions, and to the collections of the Smithsonian, are remarkable.

In the field
Scientists add to what we know about the world around us by studying, and explaining the plants, animals, minerals and artifacts they collect in the field. Botanists, zoologists, archaeologists and other scientists gather and record data about their specimens and artifacts in order to document the diversity of life. Fieldwork is usually a challenge and can be dangerous. In fact, the field reports of some pioneer explorers and scientists read more like an Indiana Jones story than a scientific report.

Trading Treasures
Museums open windows to the world through the collections they keep. The scientists and curators that work for museums build these collections to study, organize and explain the tremendous diversity of life on Earth. Original objects and first-hand accounts are combined to create exhibits that interpret the vast fields of history and science. Collections can be better than books, illustrating much more about the subjects than can ever be put into words.

William Henry Holmes: Artist and Scientist 1846-1933
William Henry Holmes began work at the Smithsonian as an artist sketching specimens. In 1872 he joined an expedition to study the geology of the western territories of North America. His interests eventually expanded to include geology and archaeology. In 1884, while on a research trip to Mexico with photographer William H. Jackson, Holmes became interested in Mesoamerican art and architecture. The detailed sketches and notes of archaeological sites that Holmes made throughout Mexico and Central America set the standard for the accurate documentation of archaeological excavations. Holmes' work in this field, and his early geological writings, appear in some 200 papers and books published throughout his long career.

Caribbean Voyages
The Caribbean has long been a crossroads for people, plants and animals and has attracted scientists from around the world. For more than a century Smithsonian and Caribbean naturalists and anthropologists have joined forces to study the region's incredible diversity and prehistory.
In 1914, John Brooks Henderson and Dr. Carlos de la Torre of the University of Havana worked side by side on the sailing vessel Tomás Barrera. Together they collected the remarkably varied plants, animals and geological specimens of western Cuba and the Colorados Reefs. The results of this historic voyage were published in The Cruise of the Tomás Barrera in 1916.

Early Archaeology
It was often the personal enthusiasm and drive of early explorers that led to the fantastic discoveries that were to follow. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in the work of Matthew W. Stirling. His passion for the Olmec culture of Mexico led to archaeological discoveries that changed the prevailing view of Mesoamerican history. Stirling's groundbreaking work in Tabasco and Veracruz identified the Olmec as the early "mother culture" of Mesoamerica. His work paved the way for future study and is still cited today by archaeologists working on Olmec cultural sites.

The Tomb
Centuries of expeditions and excavations confirm that Latin America and the Caribbean have long been home to highly advanced ancient cultures. More is being learned about these societies each day as researchers continue their quest for knowledge, and more pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
This is a replica of a tomb found inside the Temple of Inscriptions at a site called Palenque in the Mayan jungle of Chiapas, Mexico. Palenque was a large cultural center that exemplifies the architectural and cultural achievements of the ancient Maya of Mesoamerica. Not only was the tomb itself a spectacular find, but the carved images and writings are some of the greatest historical legacies of Latin America.