Nagel, Paul (1999). [95] The Smithsonian is now a participant in the U.S. [52] This included 192 gifts of at least $1 million. [It] also manage[s] leadership and professional development programs for Latino youth, emerging scholars and museum professionals. As a public health precaution due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), the National Museum of African American History and Culture will temporarily close to the public starting Monday, November 23. It was founded on August 10, 1846, "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". According to documents and e-mails, the exhibit and its associated presentation were edited at high levels to add "scientific uncertainty" regarding the nature and impact of global warming on the Arctic. Queries come from offices across the Smithsonian, and from around the world. p. 348. Mission Statement: The Smithsonian Office of Fellowships and Internships (OFI) advances the increase and diffusion of knowledge by strengthening, diversifying, and developing academic appointments (internships, fellowships, and research associate appointments). The Smithsonian's mission is "the increase and diffusion of knowledge." To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members. Smithsonian Archives hold 156,830 cubic feet (4,441 m3) of archival material. The museum’s collections tell the history of the planet and are a record of human interaction with the environment and one another. [Our Mission Content Section] Our Mission. Exhibitions, articles, and museum calendar of events. [45][46][47] Reuse of another old building came in 1993 with the opening of the National Postal Museum in the 1904 former City Post Office building, a few city blocks from the Mall. [63] In 2016, the Smithsonian's Air & Space museum curators restored the large model Enterprise from the original Star Trek TV series. Search. It consists of 19 museums and galleries, 9 research centers, and the National Zoo. ", "Smithsonian Seeks $300,000 to Save Dorothy's Ruby Slippers", Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), "Smithsonian considers London outpost in Olympic Park", "The First Ladies at the Smithsonian: The Tradition of the Gowns (page 1 of 3)", "The First Ladies at the Smithsonian: The First Ladies: Introduction", "Smithsonian Sets Phasers To Restore On Original Starship Enterprise", "It is Official! Rush returned in August 1838 with 105 sacks containing 104,960 gold sovereigns. This page was last edited on 17 December 2020, at 04:53. Our Community Portal is open to any venue who may be interested in hosting a SITES exhibition, but an account is required in order to access some content "[72] Today, the website features a high-tech virtual museum. The Institution's 30 million annual visitors[10] are admitted without charge. House of Representatives. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Library (Republic of Panama) Tropical biology, ecology, conservation, pharmacognosy, ecotourism, etc. Join the Smithsonian Institution as we answer these questions and more. Kangaroo Island North Coast … In addition, staff experts conduct oral and video histories that further document important figures and events in the histo… Mission and Vision Statement. Mission and History Through the power of culture, we build understanding, strengthen communities, and reinforce our shared humanity. [33], When Detroit philanthropist Charles Lang Freer donated his private collection to the Smithsonian and funds to build the museum to hold it (which was named the Freer Gallery), it was among the Smithsonian's first major donations from a private individual. [92] Upon Skorton's announced resignation in 2019, the Board selected Lonnie Bunch III, the founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, as the 14th secretary.[93]. The following is a list of Smithsonian research centers, with their affiliated museum in parentheses: Also of note is the Smithsonian Museum Support Center (MSC), located in Silver Hill, Maryland (Suitland), which is the principal off-site conservation and collections facility for multiple Smithsonian museums, primarily the National Museum of Natural History. The National Museum of Natural History houses 145 million of these specimens and artifacts, which are mostly animals preserved in Formaldehyde. The National Museum of American History is home to more than 1.8 million objects and more than three shelf-miles of archival collections. [36] The Anacostia Community Museum, an "experimental store-front" museum created at the initiative of Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley, opened in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in 1967. Congress. [51] The $1.5 billion effort raised $1 billion at the three-year mark. [52] The Smithsonian said that funds raised would go toward completion of the National Museum of African American History and Culture building, and renovations of the National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, and the Renwick Gallery. Among all the activities planned by the Institute, only a few were actually implemented. [75], According to documents obtained by The Washington Post, when former Latino Center executive director Pilar O'Leary first took the job, the center faced employees who had "serious performance issues". The Smithsonian is one of the world’s foremost research centers in science, the arts, and the humanities. This is approximately $500,000 at the time, which is equivalent to $12,005,000 in 2019 or equivalent to £9,520,034 in 2019. [29], The Smithsonian's first expansion came with construction of the Arts and Industries Building in 1881. Its work helped to develop an underlying philosophy which pushed for the pursuit and development of scientific knowledge that would benefit the nation, and edify its citizens at the same time. Afterwards, students return to their communities to serve in a paid, one-month internship. There are four pillars upon which the NMAAHC stands: The nominal head of the Institution is the chancellor, an office which has traditionally been held by the chief justice. [40] The National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum opened in the Old Patent Office Building (built in 1867) on October 7, 1968. The Smithsonian Institution Libraries hold 2 million library volumes. It opened in 1881. The Smithsonian is a global organization actively involved in conserving biodiversity, priceless art, and much more. Benjamin Latrobe, who was architect for the US Capitol after the … About the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. The Office of Protection Services (OPS) Mission and History. The Smithsonian acquired Folkways from the Asch estate in 1987, and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has continued the … Our Mission: At the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, we save species. [31] The park was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Established in 2017, the Smithsonian Conservation Commons is a science action network within the Smithsonian Institution, harnessing innovation and interdisciplinary approaches to impact worldwide conservation practices. Mission Access Smithsonian is a catalyst for consistent and integrated inclusive design that provides meaningful access to the Smithsonian Institution museums and content for visitors with disabilities. To view the status of the Smithsonian’s other museums and zoo visit si.edu/museums. [15][17] Unfortunately, the money was invested by the US Treasury in bonds issued by the state of Arkansas, which soon defaulted. The Smithsonian Institution was established as an independent trust instrumentality of the United States by an Act of Congress in 1846 with a clear mission: the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Our collections represent our nation's rich heritage, art from across the globe, and the immense diversity of the natural and cultural world. [77], Students selected for the program travel to Washington, D.C. for an "enrichment seminar" that lasts approximately five days. Eighty-five communications by 26 people were made to Congress during the entire life of the society, with more than a half relating to astronomy or mathematics. On September 18, 2013, Secretary G. Wayne Clough announced he would retire in October 2014. The 3D Program is a small group of technologists working within the Smithsonian Institution Digitization Program Office. The Smithsonian changed the exhibit, displaying the aircraft only with associated technical data and without discussion of its historic role in the war. [26] The Institution became a magnet for young scientists from 1857 to 1866, who formed a group called the Megatherium Club. The Smithsonian Institution Archives serves as the institutional memory of a unique cultural organization. The Smithsonian is a national and world treasure and is dedicated to its founding mission, “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” Its exhibitions, programs, collections, and outreach touch the lives of millions of Americans every year, as well as … Smithsonian images fall into different copyright categories; some are protected by copyright, many are subject to license agreements or other contractual conditions, and some fall into the public domain, such as those prepared by Smithsonian employees as part of their official duties. Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission will commemorate the first lunar landing in 1969, and the pioneering flights that came before, in a new, state-of-the-art traveling exhibition. Jul 3, 2016 - Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service - About the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service's mission, history, and goals. Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art. Watch. Regents are compensated on a part-time basis. In 2003, a National Museum of Natural History exhibit, Subhankar Banerjee's Seasons of Life and Land, featuring photographs of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, was censored and moved to the basement by Smithsonian officials because they feared that its subject matter was too politically controversial. Collections of artifacts are given to these museums in the form of long-term loans. [15] The American diplomat Richard Rush was dispatched to England by President Andrew Jackson to collect the bequest. With the mission to "promote science and the useful Smithsonian was the result of Secretary of the Smithsonian S. Dillon Ripley asking the retired editor of Life magazine Edward K. Thompson to produce a magazine "about things in which the Smithsonian Institution is interested, might be interested or ought to be interested". [5], Termed "the nation's attic"[6] for its eclectic holdings of 154 million items,[4] the Institution's 19 museums, 21 libraries, nine research centers, and zoo include historical and architectural landmarks, mostly located in the District of Columbia. The Global Volcanism Program (GVP) seeks better understanding of all volcanoes through documenting their eruptions--small as well as large--during the past 10,000 years. Its annual budget is around $1.2 billion, with two-thirds coming from annual federal appropriations. ", Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Smithsonian Provenance Research Initiative, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, debate over the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, List of aircraft in the Smithsonian Institution, "Smithsonian History > National Museum of American History", https://library.gwu.edu/sites/default/files/scrc/Columbian_Institute.pdf, "James Smithson – Founder of the Smithsonian, Last Will and Testament", "Founding of the Smithsonian Institution", "From the Pacific to the Patent Office: The US Exploring Expedition and the origins of America's first national museum", "Building a Lasting Cuba-U.S. Bridge through Science", "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination: Smithsonian Institution Building", "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination: Arts and Industries Building of the Smithsonian Institution", "Camille Akeju: New Director Seeks to Rejuvenate Anacostia Museum", "Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum", "The List: Six Things You Didn't Know About the Air and Space Museum on its 35th Anniversary", "Review: The Smithsonian African American Museum Is Here at Last. The Smithsonian Institution is releasing 2.8 million images from its massive collection online free for anyone to use. [31], The National Museum of Natural History opened in June 1911 to similarly accommodate the Smithsonian's United States National Museum, which had previously been housed in the Castle and then the Arts and Industries Building. U.S.A. 2021 Tours . Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission will commemorate the first lunar landing in 1969, and the pioneering flights that came before, in a new, state-of-the-art traveling exhibition. [86] More than two-thirds of the Smithsonian's workforce of some 6,300 persons are employees of the federal government. The secretary also serves as secretary to the Board of Regents but is not a voting member of that body. These included the study of plant life and the creation of a botanical garden on the capitol Mall, an examination of the country's mineral production, improvement in the management and care of livestock, and the writing of a topographical and statistical history of the United States. The Institute's charter expired in 1838, but its spirit lived on in the National Institution, founded in 1840. [25], In 1846, the regents developed a plan for weather observation; in 1847, money was appropriated for meteorological research. [91] On March 10, 2014, the Smithsonian Board selected David Skorton, a physician and president of Cornell University, as the 13th secretary of the Smithsonian. We focus on developing solutions to further the Smithsonian's mission of “the increase and diffusion of knowledge” through the use of three-dimensional scanning technology, analysis tools, and our distribution platform. The former occupied space where the present Botanic Garden sits. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19 th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Office of Protection Services provides a safe and secure environment for visitors, staff, and collections. His job is a bit like a CEO’s, he explained. Smithsonian Institution June 14, 2020. The Archives’ mission is to document the goals and activities of the whole Smithsonian in its pursuit of increasing and diffusing knowledge, and exciting learning in everyone. [71] The MSC covers 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) of land, with over 500,000 square feet (46,000 m2) of space, making it one of the largest set of structures in the Smithsonian. The Institution is as an independent trust instrumentality of the United States and holds more than 137 million artifacts and specimens in its collections. Welcome to the 3D Scanning Frontier The 3D Program is a small group of technologists working within the Smithsonian Institution Digitization Program Office. We are an international system of 21 branches and Institutional archives. Open Access furthers the Smithsonian’s mission which has been the same since its founding in 1846: for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge." [52] A smaller amount of funds would go to educational initiatives and digitization of collections. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 19 museums and the National Zoo—shaping the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world. Mission and History Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, the national museum of the United States. arts, and to establish a national museum of natural history," this organization continued to press Congress to establish a museum which would be structured in terms that were very similar to those finally incorporated into the founding of the Smithsonian Institution. The Institution was founded in 1846 with funds from the Englishman James Smithson (1765–1829) according to his wishes “under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” We continue to honor this mission and invite you to join us in our quest. [4] It was originally organized as the "United States National Museum", but that name ceased to exist as an administrative entity in 1967. [86] This 17-member board meets at least four times a year and includes as ex officio members the chief justice of the United States and the vice president of the United States. Smithsonian Gardens is open to the public every day except December 25 and January 20, 2021. The National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution. The history of the Smithsonian reflects the history of science, technology, art, and culture, both nationally and internationally. Our Mission [37][38][39] That same year, the Smithsonian signed an agreement to take over the Cooper Union Museum for the Arts of Decoration (now the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum). It did, and the building was designed by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze, based on original plans developed by Major General Montgomery C. Meigs of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. [94], In November 2007, The Washington Post reported internal criticism has been raised regarding the institution's handling of the exhibit on the Arctic. [52] Members of the boards of directors of various Smithsonian museums donated $372 million. Bunch is tasked with the oversight of the institution’s 19 museums, 21 libraries, and the National Zoo, among other entities. The database will include 2D and 3D images from the Smithsonian… Historians in this group research the history of the Smithsonian for internal and external purposes. Its research and outreach activities serve all audiences, within and beyond its walls. [87][88], As approved by Congress on August 10, 1846, the legislation that created the Smithsonian Institution called for the creation of a Board of Regents to govern and administer the organization. It was designed by the world-renowned firm of McKim, Mead & White. It has over 12 miles (19 km) of cabinets, and more than 31 million objects. [57] In 2008, 58 of these traveling exhibitions went to 510 venues across the country. The Smithsonian Office of Protection Services is recognized in the cultural and natural heritage protection field as a leader in risk management. Welcome to your Smithsonian Libraries and Archives! Commercial uses are generally restricted unless permission is obtained. The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program offers opportunities for independent research or study related to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and/or research interests of the Institution and its staff. At the Smithsonian . However, when considering the GDP at the time it may be a more accurate comparison to $220 million in today's terms. Operating expenses were covered from the $5 yearly dues collected from each member. Now the world’s largest museum library and archives system, the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives aims to fulfill the Institution’s mission for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge” while committing to meet the expanding needs of a 21st-century organization and the communities we serve. List of National Historic Landmarks in Washington, D.C. National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. President, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, President, Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts Historical Society holdings, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smithsonian_Institution&oldid=994715633, Members of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Articles containing potentially dated statements from March 2020, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles to be expanded from September 2012, Pages using Sister project links with wikidata namespace mismatch, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CANTIC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CINII identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz label identifiers, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with TePapa identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The database will include 2D and 3D images from the Smithsonian… ", Parker, Lonnae O'Neal Parker and Boyle, Katherine. 3D Digitization. [30], The National Zoological Park opened in 1889 to accommodate the Smithsonian's Department of Living Animals. The Smithsonian Institution fosters the human capacity for change by fueling the human capacity to learn. Smithsonian 3D. Global Change Research Program. The Smithsonian has close ties with 168 other museums in 39 states, Panama, and Puerto Rico. [80][81], The organization publishes under the imprints Smithsonian Institution Press,[82] Smithsonian Books,[83] and Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.[84]. [23] The voyage amassed thousands of animal specimens, an herbarium of 50,000 plant specimens, and diverse shells and minerals, tropical birds, jars of seawater, and ethnographic artifacts from the South Pacific Ocean. Other prominent members, who numbered from 30-70 during the Institute's existence, included John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, Judge William Cranch, and James Hoban. See Paris through the lens of the African American experience on this new virtual tour! The Smithsonian Office of Protection Services oversees security at the Smithsonian facilities and enforces laws and regulations for National Capital Parks together with the United States Park Police. [72], The center is a division of the Smithsonian Institution. More than 200 institutions and museums in 45 states,[note 1] Puerto Rico, and Panama are Smithsonian Affiliates.[8][9]. Dedicated to fulfilling Smithsonian’s mission for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” the Libraries and Archives is committed to the 21st-century needs of researchers, curators, educators and learners of all ages. Aeolian Islands Hope Spot Highlights Local Efforts in Marine Conservation in Italy; How Cape RADD is Training the Next Generation of Scientists in the False Bay Hope Spot; The Pandemic Put Tourism to the Galápagos Islands on Pause. The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is the world’s largest research, educational, and museum complex, with 19 museums, 9 research institutes, 7 educational units, and the National Zoo, and its work is in nearly 140 countries. The documentation, preservation, and Virginia, at 04:53 1838, but its spirit lived in... Public every day except December 25 and January 20, 2021 group called the Megatherium Club $ 12,005,000 in or! Within and beyond its walls free of charge, though in 2010 the Deficit Commission recommended admission fees only... Than 137 million artifacts and specimens in its collections History,... Smithsonian Institution Smithsonian is one the. 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Of Hornblower & Marshall has close ties with 168 other museums in the form long-term...

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