Other Resources - From Smithson to Smithsonian

Other Resources on the Smithsonian
and Smithsonian History

Office of Smithsonian Institution Archives
Exhibits on Smithsonian History

Spencer F. Baird's Vision for a National Museum
Learn about the Second Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and his vision and determination to create the United States National Museum.
Smithson's Gift: The Story of a Bequest
Learn about Englishman James Smithson and his bequest to the people of the United States. See images of the Smithsonian over the past 150 years and watch volunteers at work.
Tour the Smithsonian's Museum in 1886
Visit the Smithsonian in 1886, see the giant squid in the Castle, see dinosaurs and George Washington's uniform on display in the new museum building (now the Arts and Industries Building), and get to know the staff in the late nineteenth century.
Smithsonian Time Line
Learn about some of the major events that have shaped the Institution in the last 150 years.
A Look Back at the Smithsonian Browse through some memorable images of the Smithsonian from the last 150 years.
Historic pictures of the Smithsonian Institution
Look through a photograph album of historic photographs of the Smithsonian's museums and research institutes.

Joseph Henry, Who Was He?
By Marc Rothenberg
Editor, Joseph Henry Papers Project

Smithsonian Institutional History Division
Smithsonian History Databases

Bibliography on the History of the Smithsonian:
An annotated bibliography of published and unpublished works on the history of the Smithsonian Institution is available on-line. Included are journal articles, monographs, reports, dissertations, and oral history interviews. Topics covered include administration, buildings, collections, exhibits, expeditions, public programs, Smithsonian Secretaries, and women's history.
Available via Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS) in the Research/Bibliographies Catalog.
Chronology of the History of the Smithsonian:
A chronology of important events in the history of the Smithsonian Institution and the lives of its major figures is available on-line. All entries have citations to primary and secondary sources with additional information on the event. Topics include the creation of the Institution, new programs, museums and research institutes, hirings, retirements, exhibit and building openings, acquisitions of important specimens and artifacts, and special events.
Available via Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS) in the Research/Bibliographies Catalog.

Office of Architectural History and Historic Preservation

Office of Imaging, Printing and Photographic Services

Photographs From the Smithsonian 150th Birthday Celebration on the National Mall!

Of General Interest

The Smithsonian: 150 Years of Adventure, Discovery, and Wonder
From the book, The Smithsonian: 150 Years of Adventure, Discovery, and Wonder by John Conaway, © 1995 Smithsonian Institution.