Admin Table of Contents
How did the Smithsonian get started?
The Smithsonian Institution was established with funds from James Smithson (1765–1829), a British scientist who left his estate to the United States to found “at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” On August 10, 1846, the U.S. Senate …
Who started the Smithsonian museums?
James Smithson
The Institution is now 169 years old, but its true beginning happened 250 years ago with the birth of a seemingly ill-fated boy named James Smithson. Smithson (c. 1765–1829), the founding donor of the Smithsonian, was an English chemist and mineralogist.
Where did Smithsonian get name?
The institution is named after its founding donor, British scientist James Smithson. It was originally organized as the United States National Museum, but that name ceased to exist administratively in 1967.
Does the Smithsonian work with the FBI?
Anthropologists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have been called upon to analyze human remains for over a century. In these cases Smithsonian anthropologists work with the FBI, State Department, and other law enforcement agencies to identify the individuals and solve crimes.
Who founded the Smithsonian?
James Smithson: Founder of the Smithsonian Institution. James Smithson (c. 1765-1829), founding donor of the Smithsonian Institution, was born in 1765 in France with the name James Lewis Macie.
When was the Smithsonian founded?
Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Institution ( /smɪθˈsoʊniən/ smith-SOH-nee-ən ), founded on August 10, 1846 “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” is a group of museums and research centers administered by the Government of the United States. The institution is named after its founding donor, British scientist James Smithson.
What is the Smithsonian made of?
The Smithsonian Institution Building, popularly known as the “Castle,” was designed by architect James Renwick, Jr. The building is constructed of red sandstone from Seneca Creek, Maryland, in the Norman style (a 12th-century combination of late Romanesque and early Gothic motifs).
Was the Smithsonian haunted?
Many believe the Smithsonian Castle is haunted. The Institution’s founder, James Smithson, is said to be among the otherworldly visitors. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives) The Smithsonian Institution has been a part of the American landscape since 1846.