Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution (/smɪθˈsoʊniən/ smith-SOE-nee-ən), established in 1846 "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge," is a group of museums and research centers administered by the Government of the United States. Originally organized as the "United States National Museum," that name ceased to exist as an administrative entity in 1967. Termed "the nation's attic" for its eclectic holdings of 138 million items, the Institution's nineteen museums, nine research centers, and zoo include historical and architectural landmarks, mostly located in the District of Columbia. Additional facilities are located in Arizona, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York City, Virginia, and Panama. A further 170 museums are Smithsonian Affiliates. The Institution's thirty million annual visitors are admitted without charge. Funding comes from the Institution's endowment, private and corporate contributions, membership dues, government support, as well as retail, concession and licensing revenues. Institution publications include Smithsonian and Air & Space magazines.

Smithsonian (disambiguation)

Smithsonian can refer to:

See also

The Smithsonian Institution (novel)

Gore Vidal's 1998 novel The Smithsonian Institution is a fictional account of the adventures of "T." as he helps a group of scientists in the basement of the Smithsonian create the neutron bomb, and encounters historical figures such as President Abraham Lincoln, Charles Lindbergh, Eleanor Roosevelt and Mrs. Grover Cleveland.

Vidal supposedly claimed that this was the inspiration for the 2006 film Night at the Museum. The film was in fact based on the 1993 children's book The Night at the Museum. The original version of that children's book had the night watchmen seeing dinosaurs come to life -- not historical figures -- and not inside the Smithsonian, as they do in Vidal's novel.