08/10/2025
📚 The Smithsonian Institution Is Founded
On August 10, 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was officially established by the U.S. Congress, thanks to an unusual and generous bequest from James Smithson, a British scientist who had never visited the United States.
Smithson left his fortune to the U.S. to create “an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” His gift—over $500,000 at the time (equivalent to tens of millions today)—laid the foundation for what would become the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex.
Today, the Smithsonian includes 21 museums and the National Zoo, holding over 157 million artifacts and specimens, from the Wright brothers’ plane to moon rocks, and admission is still free to all.
💡 Fun Fact: The first Smithsonian building, known as “The Castle,” still stands on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and serves as the institution’s administrative headquarters.