Overview:

: The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 19 museums, 9 research centers, and countless educational and cultural experiences. It is dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge, and also provides numerous opportunities for visitors to explore the rich legacy of American history. Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian offers a vast array of public programs and events, and houses more than 158 million objects, artworks, and natural specimens, as well as more than 137 million library items. The Institution also operates the National Air and Space Museum, the National Zoological Park, and the National Museum of Natural History. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in USA
Prominent Features:

1. National Air and Space Museum: The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is one of its most iconic institutions. With a collection spanning aviation and space history, the museum is home to some of the most historically significant air and spacecraft in the world. Aerospace artifacts include Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo 11 command module Columbia. The National Air and Space Museum also houses an IMAX theater and a planetarium. 2. National Museum of Natural History: As its name suggests, this Smithsonian museum houses more than 125 million specimens related to the natural world. Its vast collections include everything from dinosaur fossils to thousands of rare minerals and rocks. The museum also contains exhibits dedicated to oceanography and anthropology. 3. National Portrait Gallery: The National Portrait Gallery showcases iconic artwork that celebrates people from a variety of fields. Its vast collections include portraits of famous American figures like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr. It also contains artwork from some of the greatest painters in history, including Rembrandt and Georgia O'Keefe. 4. The Smithsonian Castle: The Smithsonian Castle is the first building you’ll see when entering the Institution's grounds. It's a a historic building that serves both as the administrative center for the Smithsonian Institution and as a museum with unique architectural features. 5. National Zoo: The National Zoo is a 161-acre park and wildlife sanctuary. It displays a variety of animals from over 400 species, including everything from giant pandas to lions and lemurs. The National Zoo is also home to the Conservation & Research Center, where researchers study animal behavior and husbandry. This national monument of USA portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The Smithsonian Institution was founded in 1846, driven by English scientist and entrepreneur James Smithson. Smithson had created a trust, which was to go to the US upon his death, the amount of the trust being $500,000. In 1836, Congress had passed an act authorizing the Smithsonian Institution, an educational and scientific institution to be based in Washington, DC. The act provided for Smithson’s trust to be used to establish and endow the Institution, which would be “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” It provided for a Board of Regents to govern the Institution and an annual appropriation of $30,000 for the first 10 years of operation. The Institution held its first meeting in 1846, and soon thereafter began building the first Smithsonian structures, including the Natural History Building, now called the Castle, and the Arts and Industries Building. The first Smithsonian exhibition opened in 1848 and featured many firsts—including a dinosaur and an electromagnet. In 1858 the Smithsonian was given the custody of the United States National Museum. From the late 19th century to the beginning of the 20th, the Smithsonian underwent vast changes in collections and operations. For example, the Freer Gallery of Art opened in 1923, and the National Air and Space Museum opened in 1976. Today, the Institution continues to expand its collections and operations. In August 2016, the Smithsonian opened its newest museum, the National Museum of African Americans in Arts and Culture, marking the 19th addition to the Institution. The Smithsonian's research covers fields such as geography, color theory, history, anthropology, physical and life sciences, and more. With a collection of over 155 million objects from all over the world, the Smithsonian is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious research organizations. You must visit one of these historical places in USA on your USA tour

Interesting facts:

1. The Smithsonian Institution is currently comprised of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research centers. 2. The Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum, research, and education complex in the world, with over 137 million artifacts in its collections. 3. The Smithsonian Institution dates back to 1826, when James Smithson left the bulk 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.” 4. The first Smithsonian building, the red Castle on the National Mall in Washington D.C., was completed in 1855. 5. The Smithsonian Institution employs nearly 6,000 people across the United States with an additional 6,000 volunteers. 6. Every year, the Smithsonian draws more than 25 million visitors from around the world. 7. The Smithsonian Institution has a specialized library system of more than 250 libraries and archives. 8. The Smithsonian was the first museum to ever display art work from outside the United States. 9. The Smithsonian includes the first public museum in the United States, the Smithsonian American Art Museum. 10. The Smithsonian also operates the National Postal Museum and the National Air and Space Museum, the most visited museum in the world. Visit one of the famous monuments of USA with your friends and family.