What is the Smithsonian Open Access MCP?

It is a connector that allows your AI client to access the Smithsonian Institution's digital assets and records through the Enterprise Digital Asset Network.

Do I need my own API key?

Yes, you will need to enter your Smithsonian API Key to authenticate your access to the repository.

Which AI clients can I use with this?

You can use this MCP with any compatible client, including Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

Can I search for specific types of objects?

Yes, you can use the search capabilities to find specific items or narrow your results by category, such as art or science.

Is the data provided by the Smithsonian?

Yes, the MCP provides programmatic access to the official records and digital assets held by the Smithsonian Institution.

Can I search for specific historical figures across all Smithsonian museums?

Yes! Use the search_records capability with your query (e.g., 'Abraham Lincoln'). It will return matching records, images, and artifacts from across all Smithsonian units.

How do I get the full metadata for a specific museum object?

Use the get_content capability with the unique identifier (ID) of the record. This will fetch detailed metadata, including descriptions, dates, and media links.

Is it possible to limit my search to just art or science categories?

Yes, the search_category capability allows you to specify a category (like 'art', 'history', or 'science') along with your search query to get more targeted results.

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Connect Smithsonian Open Access to ChatGPT and Claude

Set it up once and it works in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and any other client you love. It all runs safely in the background, so you can relax and focus on what really matters. Pull millions of museum records into your AI workspace.

Ask AI about this Connector

Developed, maintained, and hosted by Vinkius.

MCP VERIFIED · PRODUCTION READY · VINKIUS GUARANTEED

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Works with modern AI clients that support MCP, including ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and more.

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

No other AI tool gives you this. Your workflow runs in the client you already love, your account stays protected, and you decide what the agent can and cannot do. It is the whole reason to make the switch.

Each Connector lives inside our infrastructure, the same place where your workflow runs. The three things below are already part of it, working quietly in the background so you never have to think about them. Nothing to add, nothing to set up, nothing to worry about.

V8 Isolate01

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed V8 runtime — no access to your files, your system, or other servers. A Connector never sees past its own request.

Kill Switch02

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

One action deactivates every Connector, revokes every token, and ends every session at once. AI Governance keeps the record.

FinOps per User03

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

Every user keeps their own connections and credentials, isolated from everyone else. Anything that would cross your spending limit is held for your approval, not billed.

Three controls, built into the layer your AI connects through.

Curated set · 3 capabilities

We ship only the actions that matter.

Capability set01 / 01

01-03

3 capabilities in this set.

Part of 3 available through Smithsonian Open Access.

01
Get content
This capability pulls a specific museum record using its unique identifier. It provides the full metadata and digital asset links for a single object.
02
Search records
Use this capability to run a global search across all Smithsonian units. It finds images, specimens, and artifacts from across the entire institution.
03
Search category
This capability narrows your search to specific fields or museum units. It helps you find results within defined categories like art, history, or science.

Real work

What teams actually run

Academic Research

An academic uses the MCP to find specific provenance data for historical artifacts.

Educational Content

A teacher pulls high-quality museum images to include in a classroom presentation.

Digital Asset Integration

A developer uses the capability to feed authentic historical data into a new application.

Historical Fact-Checking

A writer verifies details about a specific specimen or artifact using official Smithsonian records.

Automate a task

Put Smithsonian Open Access to work on one thing.

Step-by-step automations your AI runs through this Connector: the workflow, the prompts to start with, and the exact capabilities behind each move.

One connector, every AI

Smithsonian Open Access works with the most popular AI clients.

These are the most popular clients, each with a step-by-step guide: one link, set up once, with governance and visibility built in. And because everything runs on the MCP standard, the same connection also works in any other compatible client — nothing to rebuild.

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

You don't need a client to put Smithsonian Open Access to work: the same hosted connection plugs into your own applications and agent code, with the same governance on every request. Build with it, chat with it — one connection for both.

Observed, not estimated

995ms average. Fast in production.

Smithsonian Open Access is checked daily against the live service.

Daily averagePeak 1110ms

Oct 3Today

Fastest day: 817ms
Slowest day: 1110ms
14-day trend: Slowing+8%

Connect your client

One URL. Every client.

Activate the Connector, copy your link, and paste it into the client you already use. 3 capabilities arrive ready to run.

Preview access · not provider authentication

The vk_preview_* token belongs to Vinkius preview infrastructure. It lets Claude discover and display the capabilities of Smithsonian Open Access, so you can see the experience inside your AI.

It does not authenticate your account with Smithsonian Open Access. Actions requiring credentials or live account data may not run until you activate the Connector and authorize the service.

Smithsonian Open Access Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_7j2t3t1NMbIvdD0t9iU54C7jgRX5886q0Eol0bDi/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
3Click Add and start a new chat — Smithsonian Open Access capabilities are ready to use.

Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "smithsonian-open-access-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_7j2t3t1NMbIvdD0t9iU54C7jgRX5886q0Eol0bDi/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Claude
ChatGPT
Cursor
VS Code
Windsurf
Claude Code
JetBrains
Cline

Step-by-step instructions for each client are in the guide. How to connect

Guided setup for Claude? Set up Smithsonian Open Access in Claude and other AIs

See all the AI clients this connector works with ↑

Who it's for

Built for the work Smithsonian Open Access owners hand off.

This MCP is built for anyone needing high-fidelity historical or scientific data for professional or creative work.

01
Researchers
They use the MCP to gather metadata and primary source info for scholarly papers.
02
Educators
They pull museum records and images to build lesson plans and learning materials.
03
Creatives
They integrate authentic historical data into digital experiences and applications.

FAQ

Questions Smithsonian Open Access owners ask.

01
What is the Smithsonian Open Access MCP?
It is a connector that allows your AI client to access the Smithsonian Institution's digital assets and records through the Enterprise Digital Asset Network.
02
Do I need my own API key?
Yes, you will need to enter your Smithsonian API Key to authenticate your access to the repository.
03
Which AI clients can I use with this?
You can use this MCP with any compatible client, including Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.
04
Can I search for specific types of objects?
Yes, you can use the search capabilities to find specific items or narrow your results by category, such as art or science.
05
Is the data provided by the Smithsonian?
Yes, the MCP provides programmatic access to the official records and digital assets held by the Smithsonian Institution.
06
Can I search for specific historical figures across all Smithsonian museums?
Yes! Use the search_records capability with your query (e.g., 'Abraham Lincoln'). It will return matching records, images, and artifacts from across all Smithsonian units.
07
How do I get the full metadata for a specific museum object?
Use the get_content capability with the unique identifier (ID) of the record. This will fetch detailed metadata, including descriptions, dates, and media links.
08
Is it possible to limit my search to just art or science categories?
Yes, the search_category capability allows you to specify a category (like 'art', 'history', or 'science') along with your search query to get more targeted results.

Explore

More in Knowledge Management

Connect Smithsonian Open Access to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

We ship only the actions that matter.

01-03

Get content

Search records

Search category

What teams actually run

Academic Research

Educational Content

Digital Asset Integration

Historical Fact-Checking

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

Smithsonian Open Access Connector

Claude Desktop

Researchers

Educators

Creatives

What is the Smithsonian Open Access MCP?

Do I need my own API key?

Which AI clients can I use with this?

Can I search for specific types of objects?

Is the data provided by the Smithsonian?

Can I search for specific historical figures across all Smithsonian museums?

How do I get the full metadata for a specific museum object?

Is it possible to limit my search to just art or science categories?

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