Magical History Tour ✨

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Dear Friend, Your Smithsonian turns 176 years old next week! That’s nearly two centuries of knowledge, curation, science, and discovery — all thanks to the passion and generosity of people like you. Celebrate with us by getting acquainted with fascinating stories and artifacts from across the Smithsonian’s history. Then, add your own Smithsonian memories to the collection! The Smithsonian was founded through a single gift from chemist and mineralogist James Smithson. The story of how Smithson’s fortune came to the United States is one of family drama, legal woes, and a bit of serendipity. Dig into the juicy details illuminated by the anonymous donation of a 200-year-old deed. Relics of George Washington on exhibit as part of the Ethnology exhibit in the North Hall of the United States National Museum, 1891 (now the Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building). Washington's relics were one of the earliest collections of the United States National Museum. Smithsonian Institution Archives. View historic pictures of the Smithsonian, from the first museum spaces and exhibitions to early images of conservation, field work, and astrological observation. The first Smithsonian building, known as the Castle, was designed in 1846 as a beacon for curious minds and scientific inquiry. Learn more about the architectural history of the Castle and other buildings that are the cornerstone of the Smithsonian Institution. A polarized-light microscopy image (in background) of a section from the Allende meteorite (Chip Clark / National Museum of Natural History). Hope Diamond (Chip Clark / National Museum of Natural History). A hand touching a lunar touchrock (Jim Preston / Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum). Tyrannosaurus rex (Gary Mulcahey / National Museum of Natural History). The Smithsonian may be 176 years old, but some of the objects in the collections are much older… by millions or even billions of years! If you haven’t already, take the quiz to see if you can spot which object is oldest. From The Day the Earth Stood Still to The Golden Girls, Animaniacs to The X-Files, the Smithsonian has had a pop culture presence since its earliest days! See how Smithsonian staff, buildings, and artifacts have been portrayed in cartoons, movies, books, video games, and more! A troop of Cub Scouts view the stegosaurs in the “Hall of Extinct Monsters” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, circa early 1950’s. Smithsonian Institution Archives. What’s your favorite Smithsonian memory? Maybe it was your fourth-grade class trip when you saw Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers for the first time, a spring stroll with friends through the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden, or seeing your children come face-to-face with the Apollo 11 Command Module. Share your story of a Smithsonian exhibit, object, or moment that left a lasting impression! The Smithsonian has fostered knowledge and discovery for generations thanks to funding from generous supporters like you. Thank you for bringing the Smithsonian to life! Support Your Smithsonian » © 2022 Smithsonian Institution 1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20560 Unsubscribe Privacy Policy