smithsonian-mcp
smithsonian-mcp is an MCP server. It reaches smithsonian. It needs SMITHSONIAN_API_KEY to authenticate. Its repository has 10 GitHub stars and is licensed under MIT; we last read it on 2026-10-22.
This server implements the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to provide AI assistants access to the Smithsonian Institution's Open Access collections.
Install
MCP servers are packaged differently from each other -- some run via npx, some as a Docker image, some as a plain script you clone and run. smithsonian-mcp’s own README did not state one plainly enough for this page to quote it rather than guess, so it will not guess. The repository below states it.
What it reaches, and what it needs
Maintenance
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides AI assistants with access to the Smithsonian Institution's Open Access collections.
Common questions about smithsonian-mcp
- What does smithsonian-mcp do?
- This server implements the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to provide AI assistants access to the Smithsonian Institution's Open Access collections.
- How do I install smithsonian-mcp?
- Its README did not state an install command plainly enough for us to quote one, so we do not guess. The repository has the instructions: https://github.com/molanojustin/smithsonian-mcp
- What does smithsonian-mcp connect to, and what does it need?
- It reaches smithsonian. The credentials we found in its source are SMITHSONIAN_API_KEY.
- Is smithsonian-mcp official and is it maintained?
- We found nothing naming it as a vendor’s official server. Its repository has 10 GitHub stars and its state in our directory is listed. Its last commit we recorded was on 2026-10-21.
- What licence does smithsonian-mcp use?
- The repository declares the MIT licence.