Join us on Sunday, April 12 or Monday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. to hear harpist Maeve Gilchrist (2026 Musician-in-Residence) and violinist Layale Chaker (Fall 2021 Early Career Musician Resident).

Happy #InternationalWomensDay! Today, we celebrate the women who have shaped Dumbarton Oaks into what it is today. Learn more about three notable women of our early history and their passion for the humanities. Explore more of DO’s history at https://www.doaks.org/about/history#InternationalWomensDay

Colin Whiting, Managing Editor of Byzantine Studies, has recently been interviewed by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens about his book, DOGS IN THE ATHENIAN AGORA, in which he explores the relationship between the ancient Greeks and dogs.

Have you ever visited the Music Room? If so, you have probably seen our beautiful Steinway piano – which is turning 100 years old this year! Hear from Carla Galfano, Manager of the House Collection, about the history of our piano and what makes it special at vimeo.com/1168601413?s...

Join us on Sunday, March 8 or Monday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. for a night of music with the extraordinary Hungarian pianist Dénes Várjon, one of today’s most inspiring and highly regarded contributors to international musical life.

LAST CALL! There are only a few more days left to see the exhibits "Clothing for the Afterlife" and "Trees of Dumbarton Oaks!"

We’re excited to announce our newest publication, BLACK ATLANTIC WORLDS!

Today, at 9:00 a.m. Central, at #CAA114, meet Carla Galfano, Manager of the House Collection, who will present a paper on a collection of Asian art gathered by Mildred and Robert Bliss, our founders. This paper is being presented as part of the New Research in the History of Collecting session.

At the College Art Association's 114th conference in Chicago? Swing by Booth 325 to see our recent publications and meet our staff, including Director Tom Cummins! #CAA2026 #CAA114

The Byzantine Studies community at Dumbarton Oaks is saddened to learn of the passing of Hélène Glykatzi-Ahrweiler on Monday, February 16, 2026, at the age of 99. 1/3

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we are celebrating the areas of study we love at Dumbarton Oaks. Find the perfect Pre-Columbian or Byzantine-inspired card for your Byzan-tine – I mean, Valentine – below! Need Valentine's plans? How about a Museum date? Plan your visit at https://www.doaks.org/!

On this Valentine's Day, follow along Post-Baccalaureate Fellow Kyle Mandell as he narrates the history of the Gardens' most romantic spot: the Lovers' Lane Pool! Watch the video at https://vimeo.com/1164148835?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Happy Galentine's Day! Whether you are celebrating Valentine's or Galentine's, here are some more endearing cards inspired by our founders, Mildred Barnes Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss, and our garden's landscape architect, Beatrix Farrand. Share these with your platonic and romantic loves!

Beat the cold with a visit to the museum! The Museum at Dumbarton Oaks reopens Tuesday, February 10 at 11:30 a.m. For the safety of staff and visitors, the Gardens will remain closed through Monday, February 23. Stay up to date on our opening status on our website and social media platforms.

Exciting news! Paul Ulishney’s “New Evidence for Conversion to Islam in Anastasius of Sinai’s Hodegos” has won the 2026 @medievalacademy.bsky.social Van Courtlandt Elliott Prize, which recognizes the best early-career article. Get your copy: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780884025184

On Sunday, February 22, and Monday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m., Dumbarton Oaks will welcome the wonderful Thalea String Quartet performing "The Natural World," which includes works by Terry Riley, Haydn, Beethoven, Henry Purcell, Gabriella Smith, and Andrew Yee.

Do mysteries pique your interest? Head over to JSTOR Daily for the newest #PlantOfTheMonth, which recounts the story of Lignum nephriticum, an enigmatic tree known for its healing properties and ... turning water blue?

OLD ENGLISH CATHOLIC HOMILIES is “a clear and helpful volume for anyone interested in monastic culture in the medieval West, early medieval England generally, or the Church's long tradition of preaching.”

With an on-site population of nearly 70 and miles of pathway and sidewalk, it takes a gargantuan effort to maintain safe walkways.

For the safety of staff and visitors, the Museum and Gardens at Dumbarton Oaks are closed until further notice. Keep an eye out on our website and social media for further closure updates.

Due to this weekend's inclement weather, the Museum and Gardens at Dumbarton Oaks are closed on Saturday, January 24, and Sunday, January 25. Stay tuned to our website and social media platforms for further weather closure updates. Until then, stay safe and warm! ☃️

Due to this weekend’s weather conditions and travel issues, the concerts featuring Maeve Gilchrist and Layale Chaker have been postponed until further notice. Individual ticketholders will be contacted about ticket options.

MEXICO-TENOCHTITLAN is a “richly illustrated volume . . . [and] a valuable addition to Teotihuacan literature.” Read the review: https://www.thearchcons.org/current-issue-book-reviews/

In just five days, the Music Room will host the wonderful Layale Chaker and Maeve Gilchrist performing “Smoke Veins”, a suite drawn from Celtic and Levantine traditions.

February 23 is the deadline to apply for Introduction to Ge’ez, a #language and #paleography course held from July 5–August 1, 2026, at HMML in Collegeville, Minnesota. Course fees, meals, and lodging are generously sponsored by @dumbartonoaks.bsky.social#language#paleography Apply today: hmml.org/programs/intro-ge-ez

Khipus are a complex information system that use knotted, colored, and twisted cords to record and convey information. Last November, a group of stellar graduate students was able to closely observe the Dumbarton Oaks khipu collection during our 2025 Graduate Student Museum Study Day.

Wondering how the humanities can support careers in STEM? Meet Michael Kennedy-Yoon! Following his time at Dumbarton Oaks as an Early Career Fellow, Michael pursued a career in medicine.

"Some flavors whisper of home, speaking a language rooted in place and memory. For those living in the Levant, the slightly bitter and spicy notes of za’atar have been a symbol of heritage, culture, and resilience for centuries."

Attention Harvard College seniors and recent alumni! Applications to Dumbarton Oaks' Early Career Fellowships are due on Sunday, February 1.

Happy Apple Tree Day! Have you seen our apple trees in the Gardens? In the spring, these beautiful flowers bloom, giving way to apple fruits in the summer months.

"I cannot help myself from drawing connections to Dumbarton Oaks in everything I read." Kyle Mandell, a 2025-2026 Post-Baccalaureate Fellow, shares how Dumbarton Oaks inspires his reading list in the latest Oaks News, "Building My Own Collection: Reading in the Milieu of Dumbarton Oaks."

As the year comes to a close, check out some of Dumbarton Oaks’ highlights in our 2025 Wrapped! Thank you for an incredible year and see you in 2026!

Happy holidays! Enjoy 30% off all our books through Dec. 31 with the code HOL25 at checkout. Get yours today: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/partners/dumbarton-oaks-research-library-and-collection?page=1 https://www.hup.harvard.edu/series/dumbarton-oaks-medieval-library Harvard University Press

Kick off the new year with new music!

For anyone researching fifteenth-century Spain, especially the reign of Juan II of Castile (1406–1454), [THE LABYRINTH OF FORTUNE] is an essential resource.” Read the review: https://www.medievalists.net/2025/11/new-medieval-books-the-labyrinth-of-fortune/

Dumbarton Oaks is proudly sponsoring two intensive language courses in Introductory Ge'ez and Classical Armenian, in partnership with the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library.

Calling all scholars working in Turkey on Byzantine, Armenian, Georgian, and Syriac Studies! Apply now for a virtual, four-session program focused on professional development.

The Plant Humanities Initiative at Dumbarton Oaks invites applications for two-week virtual faculty residencies in June 2026, concentrating on topics at the intersection of East Asia Studies and Plant Humanities.

Applications are open for the 2026 Plant Humanities Summer Program! This program is a collaboration between the DO Plant Humanities Initiative and the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. Participants will engage in two weeks of virtual instruction followed by two weeks in-person at Oak Spring.

Due to inclement weather, the Gardens are closed today, Friday, December 5. But the Museum is warm and open! We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Gardens again tomorrow, Saturday, December 6, unless additional closure guidance is shared. Keep an eye out on social media and our website!

Winter season at Dumbarton Oaks begins on Tuesday, December 2. Admission to the Gardens is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance via Eventbrite.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving baking, have you heard of the tonka bean? Often compared to vanilla, it is a central ingredient in many recipes around the world... Except in the United States, where it is actually banned by the Food and Drug Administration!

Join us on Sunday, December 7 and Monday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. to hear our Fall 2025 Musician-in-Residence Phillip Golub perform original compositions alongside unique re-imaginings of familiar melodies. Tickets: www.doaks.org/events/music...

In observance of Thanksgiving, the Museums and Gardens at Dumbarton Oaks are closed on Thursday, November 27. We look forward to welcoming visitors again on Friday, November 28. Find more information about hours and tickets at our #LinkInBio under "Plan Your Visit to DO."

There would be no silk without silkworms, and no silkworms without the mulberry tree!

Our three newest Medieval Library vols. are out now: THE MENOLOGION OF BASIL II, THE WORKS OF HROTSVIT OF GANDERSHEIM, and vol. 1 of THE OLD ENGLISH CHRONICLE!

In observance of Veterans' Day, the Museum and Gardens at Dumbarton Oaks will be closed on Tuesday, November 11. We look forward to welcoming visitors again on Wednesday, November 12. Plan your visit to Dumbarton Oaks at www.doaks.org/visit/plan.

Join us on Thursday, November 20, at 6:00 p.m. to hear from Brian S. Bauer, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois Chicago, speaking on the mummification practices of the Inca and the journey of five royal mummies from Cusco to Lima.

Up next in our Music At Dumbarton Oaks Concert Series, we welcome father-son duo Jeffrey and Gabriel Kahane!

In the spirit of Halloween, meet Graylin and Giorgia, two Dumbarton Oaks fellows who participate in the Death Working Group—an informal group of DO scholars whose research tackles the topic of death. What places in Dumbarton Oaks do you find the spookiest? vimeo.com/1132248701