What is the Smithsonian Institute?
Although the Smithsonian is quintessentially American, the benefactor of this Institution never visited the States. In his will, a British Scientist called James Smithson (1765 – 1829) left his estate to his nephew, Henry James Hungerford.
Smithson stipulated that if Hungerford died without heirs, the estate was to go to the Government of the USA for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men”.
Hungerford died in 1835, with no heirs and the Smithson bequest was announced in Congress by President Andrew Jackson. It amounted to $500,000 which is around $10, 200,000 today. Eight years later, Congress passed an act which established the Smithsonian Institute to realize Smithson’s dream.
What can I see there?
It depends what you want to see and where you would like to go. The Smithsonian is not just one Museum. The Institute has many museums and galleries with exhibits as diverse as the Hope Diamond, the Enola Gay plane which dropped the Hiroshima bomb, the original ‘Stars and Stripes’ flag, Dorothy’s red shoes from the Wizard of Oz and endangered species. Let’s take a look at the Smithsonian Institute buildings and what they offer. Each of the Museums are hyperlinked so that you can visit their websites.
All of the Smithsonian Museums are free to visitors.
Smithsonian Institution Building opened in 1855.
Where is it? On the National Mall, Washington D.C.
This beautiful building – nicknamed ‘The Castle’ – was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and houses an information center. If you’re visiting Washington D.C. it’s a great starting point for visiting the other Smithsonian Museums. The Castle was designd by James Renwick, who was also the architect for St Patrick’s Cathedral in Manahattan.
Anacostia Community Museum, opened in 1967.
Where is it? Anacostia, Washington D.C.
This facility was recently renovated to help with the collection, storage and study of artifacts of African American Culture. There is also an online academy to help with the Museums aim of identifying, studying, preserving and collecting historical items particular to African Americans.
National Museum of Asian Art, opened in 1987.
Where is it? The Museum is comprised of two buildings, the Arthur M Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art. Together, they make up the National Museum of Asian Art and they are on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. right behind the Smithsonian Castle. The main Arthur M Sackler galleries are underground, and this building connects to the Freer Gallery of Art and the National Museum of African Art. The Sackler’s main entrance is situated off of the gardens of the Smithsonian Castle which run along Independence Avenue.
Its’ collection includes 9,917 objects of Asian art which are visited annually by 900,000 visitors. The Sackler Gallery often houses international exhibitions showcasing Asian art from all over the world, including Chinese, Japanese, Buddhist, Persian, Egyptian and American works, from the Neolithic era right up to today.
Arts and Industries Building, opened in 1881, but currently closed in preparation for renovation.
Where is it? The National Mall, Washington D.C.
This building was designed following the style of those erected for the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876. It was built to house exhibits from the Expostion and following the closure of the exhibition, all foreign exhibits were relocated to the District of Columbia Armory Building in Washington D.C.
The building has had a checkered past, including problems with damp and the resulting relocation of collections elsewhere. However, in 2006, it was named one of America’s Most Endangered Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. As a result, it was placed on list of endangered historic sites and was scheduled to be given $25 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, for renovation work.
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, opened in 1897.
Where is it? In the Mansion formerly inhabited by Andrew Carnegie, Fifth Avenue and East 91st Street, part of Museum Mile, New York City.
This is the National Museum of the history of design and it is the only museum in the whole of the United States with a collection focusing entirely on design – both historic and contemporary. It is home to more than 250,000 objects, including a drawing by Michelangelo. The Museum also presents the National Design Awards each year and offers a Master of Arts program in the History of Decorative Arts and Design.
Hirshhorn Museum (and Sculpture Garden), opened in 1974.
Where is it? Next to the National Mall in Washington D.C.
The Hirshhorn houses contemporary and modern art, focusing on the period after World War II. The collection includes works by Alexander Calder, John Chamberlain, David Smith, Francis Bacon,Hiroshi Sugimoto, Willem de Kooning, Milton Avery, Ellsworth Kelly, Louise Nevelson, Arshile Gorky, Edward Hopper, Larry Rivers, and Raphael Soyer.
The outdoor Sculpture Garden includes pieces by Auguste Rodin, Jeff Koons and Alexander Calder.
National Air and Space Museum, (NASM) opened in 1976.
Where is it? The National Mall, Washington D.C.
NASM has the largest collection of original historic aircraft and spacecraft in the World and is, understandably, the most visited of the Smithsonian Museums. It is also contains an IMAX theatre and is a research center for planetary science, geology and geophysics.
NASM also has an annex called the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, in Chantilly, Fairfax County, Virginia. This was opened in 2003 to showcase items that were too large for NASM, such as:
- The Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan
- The Space Shuttle, Enterprise
- The Gemini VII Capsule
- An SR-71 Blackbird that featured in the film ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’
- French Concorde airliner that broke the speed of sound
- The miniature of the ‘Mothership’ used for the film ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’
- A piece of fabric from the Hindenburg Airship
National Museum of African American History and Culture, (NMAAHC) established in 2003 and due for opening in 2015.
Where is it? It will be on the southwest corner of Constitution Avenue and 14th Street NW, adjacent to the National Museum of American History and across 15th Street from the Washington Monument, on the National Mall in Washington D.C.
In 2007 the National Museum of African American History and Culture became the first major museum to open on the Internet before its physical building was completed. This was to facilitate communication between scholars and the public. The main feature of the website is a Memory Book, so that people can contribute to the pictures, stories or audio material to pass on unique experiences in African-American culture. While building continues, physical exhibits will be housed in other Smithsonian buildings in Washington and elsewhere.
National Museum of African Art, established as a private museum in 1964. Became part of the Smithsonian in 1979.
Where is it? On the National Mall, Washington D.C. The main entrance is off the gardens on Independence Avenue Southwest, in front of the Smithsonian Castle.
This museum specialises in African Art and Culture and is not to be confused with the Museum for African Art in New York.
National Museum of American History, opened in 1964.
Where is it? The National Mall, Washington D.C.
This museum of American History houses historical items of social, political, cultural, scientific and military interest, including Dorothy’s ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the film ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and the original ‘Star Spangled Banner’ flag.
National Museum of the American Indian, opened in 2004.
Where is it? On Fourth Street and Independence Avenue Southwest, the National Mall, Washington D.C.
This museum was established in 1989 following an Act of Congress and has three buildings dedicated to the life, languages, history, arts and literature of Native Americans.
The other two are:
- The George Gustav Heye Center – in the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House on Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan, New York. The building is a National Historic Landmark.
- The Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, Maryland (a research and collections center)
The Museum’s collection has more than 800,000 objects and a collection of more than 125,000 photographs. It was gathered by George Gustav Heye who started collecting in 1903 and continued for 54 years.
National Museum of Natural History, opened in 1858 and again in 1911.
Where is it? The National Mall, Washington D.C.
This is the second most popular of the Smithsonian Museums and the collection boasts over 126 million items of plant, animal, fossil, mineral, rock, meteorite and human cultural artefacts (including the famous Hope Diamond).
It is also where 185 Natural History Scientists study natural history, the largest group in the world.
National Portrait Gallery, opened in 1968.
Where is it? The Penn Quarter, Washington D.C. (just south of Chinatown).
The permanent collection includes the famous portrait of George Washington by Landsdowne as well as many other portraits of notable Americans. It also runs a triennial competition for contemporary portraiture – the Outwin Boochever Competition.
National Postal Museum, opened in 1993.
Where is it? In the building that –from 1914 until 1986 - was the Main Post Office for Washington D.C., across the street from Union Station.
The museum has a huge collection of stamps, as well as interactive displays about the U.S. postal service and the mail service worldwide. The museum also awards the Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award every two years.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park (National Zoo) opened in 1889.
Where is it?
- Rock Creek Park in Washington D.C. (163 acres) – open to the public
- Conservation and Research Center, Front Royal, Virginia – closed to the public, used for breeding and studying endangered species.
Together, the two sites have over 2,000 animals of 400 species.
- Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat
- Reptile Discovery Center
- Bird House
- Cheetah Conservation Station
- Amazonia
- Invertebrate House
- Marine Mammals
- Beaver Valley
- Elephant House
- Great Ape House
- Small Mammal House
The Smithsonian has a worldwide reputation for excellence so if you’re planning a visit to Washington, (or anywhere else that houses a Smithsonian Institution) make sure the Museums are on your list of places to visit.
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