In the upcoming months, the Estes Valley Library is hosting two virtual presentations from esteemed curators at the National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum.

On April 2, Paula Johnson, curator and project director of the American Food History Project, will give a presentation on Smithsonian American Table: The Foods, People, and Innovations That Feed Us. This webinar will explore how food has shaped American history and highlight the people, ingredients, events, and movements that have influenced our culinary traditions. Discover how cooking together can impact our collective future as Paula shares her insights on this fascinating topic.

Following this insightful webinar, you can try your hand at recreating some of the featured recipes that reflect American history and culture. Then, on June 3, Matt Shindell, curator at the National Air and Space Museum, will take you on a journey through the history of Mars. From ancient astrologers to modern-day explorers, learn about humanity’s fascination with the Red Planet and what ongoing efforts are being made to uncover its secrets.

These Smithsonian programs are brought to you by the Library Speakers Consortium (LSC), which connects libraries across North America with acclaimed authors and experts for virtual visits. All events are free to attend live-streamed sessions include interactive Q&A sessions with speakers. If you can’t attend in person or want to watch these programs again for your own convenience later recordings are available for viewing at any time through libraryc.org/estesvalleylibrary.