Washington, DC
Washington, DC
20
20
0
The Nation’s Attic by Bill Bennett and John Cribb
The Smithsonian Institution, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the world’s largest museum complex and research organization. Composed of 19 museums and 9 research centers, its collection encompasses 137 million items.
A somewhat obscure British scientist by the name of James Smithson planted the seed for the institution when he died in 1829 and left behind a will containing a curious provision. It stipulated that if Smithson’s nephew were to die without heirs, the estate would go “to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” American officials were surprised by the provision since Smithson had never set foot in the United States, and apparently he had never corresponded with anyone here. Nevertheless, after the nephew died without heirs in 1835, the bequest fell into Congress’s lap. Then came several years of heated debate over exactly what to do with the legacy, which amounted to more than $500,000. On August 10, 1846, President James Polk signed into law an act creating the Smithsonian Institution.
The institution’s mission is exactly what James Smithson specified: “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” That largely means connecting Americans to their history and heritage. The Smithsonian’s holdings range from the original Star-Spangled Banner to the ruby slippers worn by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz to the space capsule that carried the Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon and back. The astounding assortment has earned the Smithsonian the nickname “the nation’s attic.” Since most Smithsonian museums charge no entrance fee, one of the world’s greatest collections of artwork, artifacts, and scientific specimens is free for all to see.
American History Parade
1821
Missouri becomes the twenty-fourth state and the first state west of the Mississippi.
1846
President Polk signs legislation establishing the Smithsonian Institution.
1869
O. B. Brown of Malden, Massachusetts, receives the first patent for a movie projector.
1874
Herbert Clark Hoover, the thirty-first U.S. president, is born in West Branch, Iowa.
1990
The spacecraft Magellan lands on Venus on the anniversary of the day that Ferdinand Magellan’s ships set sail in 1519 on the first circumnavigation of the globe.
The Smithsonian Institution, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the world’s largest museum complex and research organization. Composed of 19 museums and 9 research centers, its collection encompasses 137 million items.
A somewhat obscure British scientist by the name of James Smithson planted the seed for the institution when he died in 1829 and left behind a will containing a curious provision. It stipulated that if Smithson’s nephew were to die without heirs, the estate would go “to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” American officials were surprised by the provision since Smithson had never set foot in the United States, and apparently he had never corresponded with anyone here. Nevertheless, after the nephew died without heirs in 1835, the bequest fell into Congress’s lap. Then came several years of heated debate over exactly what to do with the legacy, which amounted to more than $500,000. On August 10, 1846, President James Polk signed into law an act creating the Smithsonian Institution.
The institution’s mission is exactly what James Smithson specified: “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” That largely means connecting Americans to their history and heritage. The Smithsonian’s holdings range from the original Star-Spangled Banner to the ruby slippers worn by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz to the space capsule that carried the Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon and back. The astounding assortment has earned the Smithsonian the nickname “the nation’s attic.” Since most Smithsonian museums charge no entrance fee, one of the world’s greatest collections of artwork, artifacts, and scientific specimens is free for all to see.
American History Parade
1821
Missouri becomes the twenty-fourth state and the first state west of the Mississippi.
1846
President Polk signs legislation establishing the Smithsonian Institution.
1869
O. B. Brown of Malden, Massachusetts, receives the first patent for a movie projector.
1874
Herbert Clark Hoover, the thirty-first U.S. president, is born in West Branch, Iowa.
1990
The spacecraft Magellan lands on Venus on the anniversary of the day that Ferdinand Magellan’s ships set sail in 1519 on the first circumnavigation of the globe.
American History
Museums
World History
Washington
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
9
9
0
I grew up with the Smithsonian close at hand (just an hour down the road from Baltimore) and spent countless hours exploring the place. It seemed that it was growing faster than I could walk it. I regret not having easy access anymore living as I do on the Left Coast. I regret even more those who have never had the opportunity to visit it, especially children. It's the kind of place where a respect for and fascination with actual science is born. I wonder how many would be duped into following false science like "Flat Earth" and "Man-Made Climate Change" had they grown up exploring its wonders...
(9)
(0)
Lt Col Charlie Brown
It's one of the things that makes living just outside of the madness of the Nation's Capital, bearable.
(6)
(0)
CPT Jack Durish
Lt Col Charlie Brown - We're all living on the edge of the madness that is the District of Calamity, even the world at large which is why my wife and I have considered moving to another country and then gave up the idea. You can run but you can't hide...
(5)
(0)
7
7
0
6
6
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google