The Smithsonian Institution.

The Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex and research organization.

The Smithsonian :

Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world's largest museum and research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities.

James Smithson & the Founding of the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian Institution was established with funds from James Smithson (1765-1829), a British scientist who left his estate to the United States to found “at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”

Smithson, the illegitimate child of a wealthy Englishman, had traveled much during his life, but had never once set foot on American soil. Why, then, would he decide to give the entirety of his sizable estate—which totaled half a million dollars, or 1/66 of the United States’ entire federal budget at the time—to a country that was foreign to him?

Some speculate it was because he was denied his father’s legacy. Others argue that he was inspired by the United States’ experiment with democracy. Some attribute his philanthropy to ideals inspired by such organizations as the Royal Institution, which was dedicated to using scientific knowledge to improve human conditions. Smithson never wrote about or discussed his bequest with friends or colleagues, so we are left to speculate on the ideals and motivations of a gift that has had such significant impact on the arts, humanities, and sciences in the United States.

The "Castle" (1847), the Institution's first building and still its headquarters

Museums

Nineteen museums and galleries, as well as the National Zoological Park, comprise the Smithsonian museums. Eleven are on the National Mall, the strip of land that runs between theLincoln Memorial and the United States Capitol. Other museums are located elsewhere in Washington, D.C., with two more in New York City and one in Chantilly, Virginia.

The Smithsonian has close ties with 168 other museums in 39 states, Panama and Puerto Rico.These museums are known as Smithsonian Affiliated museums. Collections of artifacts are given to these museums in the form of long-term loans. The Smithsonian also has a large number of traveling exhibitions. In 2008, 58 of these traveling exhibitions went to 510 venues across the country.

Aircraft on display at the National Air and Space Museum, including a Ford Trimotor and Douglas DC-3 (top and second from top).

Collections

Among the Smithsonian's most famous items are the Hope Diamond and the ruby slippers. For Go Skateboarding Day in 2013—June 21—the Institution accepted professional skateboarder Tony Hawk's first skateboard. A skateboarding exhibition accompanied the submission and other professional skateboarders such as Chris Haslam, Rodney Mullen, Fred Gall, Shaun Gregoire, and Brian Anderson were also in attendance.

The Smithsonian continues to broaden its collections to include more contemporary items. In late December, 2013, the Smithsonian announced it had acquired two video games: Flower (2009), by Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago, a game about the environmental impact of pollution, in which the player controls a wind-blown collection of flower petals; and Halo 2600 (2010), by Ed Fries, a retro remix of the popular first-person shooter (FPS) game series, Halo. “The best video games are a great expression of art and culture,” said Elizabeth Broun, the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s director

A litter of lion cubs at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C

-  Smithsonian 3D Tour  :

THIS  IS GREAT  An incredible 3D tour of the Smithsonian...           Here is something  special, a virtual tour of the Smithsonian Museum room by room. It  is really something with a 3D viewing by using your  cursor. You easily spend days/weeks looking at everything. Just  marvelous for kids and adults. Follow the blue arrows on the floor  to move into new rooms.  Shows inside and outside of the  museum and their little cameras here and there which show detailed  info on certain things. If you click on the floors (upper right  corner) you get a floor plan of that floor and you can click on a  blue circle and go directly to that room. Truly incredible  web site.      Watch it in full  screen when you open this up. Use the roller on your mouse to move  in and out. Look for the "arrows" on the floor and click on them.  They take you to other  places.  http://www.mnh.si.edu/vtp/1-desktop/