Graphical timeline from Smithson to Smithsonian
From Smithson to Smithsonian - The Birth of an InstitutionAll-American Compromise

Introduction
Who Was James Smithson?
Sccepting Smithson's Gift
All-American Compromise
The Smithsonian Building
An Institution Emerges
 A National Collection
Smithson's Legacy
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams

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A National Observatory?

Believing that Smithson's bequest posed a great opportunity to advance American science, John Quincy Adams introduced legislation to use the Smithson fund for a national observatory.

"There is no richer field of science opened to the exploration of man in search of knowledge than astronomical observation."
—Representative John Quincy Adams
(Massachusetts), March 5, 1840


Portsmouth Journal
Portsmouth Journal

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Transcript Portsmouth Journal ,
March 28, 1840

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