The world’s largest museum complex was founded on this day in history, Aug. 10, 1846.
The Smithsonian Institution was first created by President James K. Polk, who signed the Smithsonian Institution Act into law after the death of English scientist James Smithson, according to History.com.
Smithson, who died in 1829, wrote in his will to leave the entirety of his estate 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."
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The request would be honored if Smithson’s only nephew were to die without children — which he did six years later, History.com reported.
Congress accepted Smithson’s gift on July 1, 1836.
People are seen on the Mall in front of the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C., on May 10, 2021. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Two years later it retrieved Smithson’s fortune of more than $500,000 worth of gold, his mineral collection, library, scientific notes and other personal items.
The scientist had been a fellow of the venerable Royal Society of London since he was 22 years old.
He published many scientific papers on topics such as mineral composition, geology and chemistry, History.com wrote.
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Smithson even had one kind of zinc carbonate, Smithsonite, named in his honor, due to his findings in 1802 regarding zinc carbonates being true carbonate minerals.
James Smithson, 1816, captured by artist Henri-Joseph Johns. Smithson, who died in 1829, left the entirety of his estate 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." (Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
His gift to America brought great interest from the public, since Smithson had never visited the United States, according to History.com.
After considering the establishment of a national university, a public library or an astronomical observatory, Congress settled on using Smithson’s bequest to create a museum, library and research program in history, the arts and the sciences.
Stereoscopic image showing the skeleton of a Hadrosaurus in the Lower Main Hall of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., circa 1880. (Thomas W. Smillie/Graphic House/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
The Smithsonian Institution today is made up of 21 museums, primarily based in Washington, D.C.
It also includes the National Zoo and multiple research centers throughout the U.S.
Smithsonian museums and galleries currently include 157.2 million objects and specimens, 2.2 million library volumes and 148,200 cubic feet of archives, according to the Smithsonian website.
Visitors return to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History on June 18, 2021, in Washington, D.C., after the museum was closed for over 400 days due to the pandemic. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
These sites are found in notable Smithsonian establishments including the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is home to the original Star-Spangled Banner, while Air and Space shows off the Wright brothers’ "First in Flight" plane.