Smithsonian Philanthropic and Revenue Generating Activities Cookies, Web Beacons, and Pixels Policy
In addition to information collected automatically, we use cookies, which are small pieces of information sent to your browser by a website that you visit. Cookies are used to track usage patterns, traffic trends, and customer behavior, as well as to record other information from the website. When you register on the website, cookies also allow us to save information so that you will not have to re-enter it the next time you visit. Many content adjustments and customer service improvements are made based on the data derived from cookies. The Smithsonian uses third-party research companies that may use information about your visit to this website or other websites in order to provide quantitative analysis about our audience. The data is retained for as long as necessary to support the mission of Smithsonian websites. You may set your browser to refuse cookies from any website that you visit. If you choose to do so, you may still gain access to most of the Smithsonian's websites, but you may not be able to conduct certain types of transactions (such as shopping) or take advantage of some of the interactive elements offered.
Additionally, the Smithsonian employs outside companies to provide marketing services on our behalf. With our approval, these third parties also may place cookies during your visit. These third-party companies will have access to the information needed to perform their functions but cannot use that information for any other purpose. They will not collect or have access to personally identifiable information. These third-party companies only collect information about your visit or transaction, such as the URLs which lead you to, around, and from our site, pages visited, the product(s) purchased, and the amount spent.
The Smithsonian also uses outside advertising and analytic companies to serve ads on and about our website. The Smithsonian matches online identifiers with first- and third-party cookies for targeted advertising. These companies may use information about your visit to this website or other websites in order to provide relevant advertisements and offers that may be of interest to you on this website and on other websites you may visit later. If you would like more information about cookies and the option not to have them used by third-party companies during your visit, please see Your Choices section below.
Web Beacons and Pixels
The Smithsonian also collects non-personally identifiable information through the use of tracking pixels that appear on our pages. A tracking pixel is a transparent graphic image (usually 1 pixel x 1 pixel or JavaScript tag) that is placed on a web page and, in combination with a cookie, allows us to collect information regarding the use of the web page that contains the tracking pixel.
We use tracking pixels to trigger ads on participating websites based on activity tracked from the browser on a device used to visit Smithsonian Websites. We also use them to tell when an advertisement we run on another website has been clicked on by Smithsonian Website visitors, and use that information to judge which advertisements are more appealing to users. Pixels can also be used for third party web analytics.
Your Choices
To opt out of these tracking pixels and services, please follow this link to opt out of the Google Analytics-based tools (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/), the Facebook Pixel (https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads), and the Bing Pixel (https://choice.microsoft.com/en-US/opt-out).
Many third-party advertisers offer a way to opt out of their interest-based advertising. For more information or to opt out of receiving interest-based advertising from participating third-party advertisers, depending on your country of residence, please visit the Digital Advertising Alliance (US) or the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance.
You can also opt-out of some network advertising programs that use your information by tracking your browsing habits via cookies or other tracking devices. To do so you can use the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) Opt-Out Tool. It shows you which advertising networks have placed cookies on your computer, and lets you opt-out of being tracked by them, should you wish to do so. Opting out does not mean you will no longer receive online advertising. It only means that the network from which you opted out will no longer deliver ads tailored to your web preferences or usage patterns.
Last Revised: May 20, 2025
