Smithsonian Institution

About

The Smithsonian Institution traces its origins to a bequest from British scientist James Smithson. In 1836, the U.S. Congress received his estate, worth roughly $500,000 in gold, and after eight years of debate over how to use it, President James K. Polk signed legislation formally establishing the institution on August 10, 1846. Centered in Washington, D.C., with additional sites in Maryland, New York, and Virginia, the Smithsonian now operates more than 20 museums, libraries, and research and education centers, along with a zoo. Its holdings exceed 150 million objects, of which the National Museum of Natural History alone accounts for more than 140 million. Most Smithsonian facilities are free to visit, drawing roughly 30 million visitors a year.