MCP server

Smithsonian

io.github.cyanheads/smithsonian-mcp-server

Checked 26 Oct 2026, 08:29 UTC · Connected to it and listed its tools

Search 14.5M Smithsonian Open Access objects, get CC0 images, find cross-collection connections.

Source

At a glance

Type

MCP server

Publisher

Not verified

Status

Working at last check

Tools

6

Token cost

About 3,826 tokens per request

Sets up in

Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex, Gemini CLI, Cursor, VS Code, Antigravity, ChatGPT, OpenAI API, Grok

Last checked

26 Oct 2026, 08:29 UTC

Connect it to your agent

Add to CursorAdd to VS CodeVS Code Insiders

Opens the app, which shows the server and asks you to confirm. For other apps, copy the setup below.

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http smithsonian-mcp-server https://smithsonian.caseyjhand.com/mcp

Claude Desktop

Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector, and paste the URL.

Codex (config.toml)

[mcp_servers.smithsonian-mcp-server]
url = "https://smithsonian.caseyjhand.com/mcp"

Gemini CLI

{"mcpServers":{"smithsonian-mcp-server":{"httpUrl":"https://smithsonian.caseyjhand.com/mcp"}}}

Cursor

{"mcpServers":{"smithsonian-mcp-server":{"url":"https://smithsonian.caseyjhand.com/mcp"}}}

VS Code

{"servers":{"smithsonian-mcp-server":{"type":"http","url":"https://smithsonian.caseyjhand.com/mcp"}}}

Antigravity

agy mcp add smithsonian-mcp-server https://smithsonian.caseyjhand.com/mcp

ChatGPT

Settings → Apps & Connectors → Advanced settings: turn on Developer mode, then Create a connector and paste the URL. Which plans can do this varies.

OpenAI API (Responses tools)

{"type":"mcp","server_label":"smithsonian-mcp-server","server_url":"https://smithsonian.caseyjhand.com/mcp","require_approval":"always"}

Grok (xAI API tools)

{"type":"mcp","server_label":"smithsonian-mcp-server","server_url":"https://smithsonian.caseyjhand.com/mcp"}

Tools

• smithsonian_browse_category Browses the web · ~816 tokens
  Browse Smithsonian objects within one exact category — a single museum (mode "museum"), culture, indexed date term (mode "period"), object type (mode "medium"), or subject term (mode "topic"). The value must be an exact indexed category term, not free text: resolve museum, culture, period, and topic
• smithsonian_find_related ~378 tokens
  Discover objects across Smithsonian collections related to a given anchor object, matched on shared metadata signals — culture, period, object type, named parties, and topic terms. Each related object is tagged with the signals that connected it to the anchor; a named-party signal carries the catalo
• smithsonian_get_media ~269 tokens
  Return every CC0 (open-access) image for a Smithsonian object at multiple resolutions. The tool never returns an empty list — it names the reason instead: an object with nothing digitized, an object whose media is entirely non-image (scanned books, 3D models, sound recordings), and an object whose i
• smithsonian_get_object ~238 tokens
  Fetch a normalized catalog metadata projection for a Smithsonian object by its record_id (from smithsonian_search_objects results). Returns title, dates, description, labeled notes, makers, materials, dimensions, places, cultures, topics, exhibitions, credit line, identifiers, rights, and a media su
• smithsonian_list_terms ~525 tokens
  Enumerate the valid term vocabulary for an indexed Smithsonian filter field (unit_code, culture, place, date, online_media_type, topic). Terms are a controlled vocabulary — often plural or qualified (e.g. "Paintings", not "Painting") — so guessed filter values tend to return nothing. Returns a page
• smithsonian_search_objects ~1600 tokens
  Recommended first step for open-ended or topic discovery: free-text search across 14.5 million Smithsonian objects, with optional exact filters. Filters narrow by museum unit, object type, indexed date term, culture, geographic place, subject topic, named party, and online/CC0 availability. Returns

Browse

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