Smithsonian Day – September 17, 2026

History of Smithsonian Day

The Smithsonian Institution developed from 1765 to 1829. The project was by James Smithson, a British scientist who donated his estate at Washington to the United States. In 1849, construction began. An architect, James Renwick Jr. designed the project, and its interiors were by a contractor Gilbert Cameron. In 1855, the building opened.

On August 10, 1846, the U.S. Senate passed the act to endorse the Smithsonian Institution, signed into law by President James K. Polk. Although Congress authorized acceptance of the Smithson bequest on July 1, 1836, it still took 10 years of deliberation before the Smithsonian. Once established, the museum became part of developing a national identity rooted in exploration and innovation.

The Smithsonian’s first secretary, Joseph Henry, had intended the museum to be a center for scientific research. It also became the depository for various Washington and U.S. government collections — the United States Exploring Expedition by the U.S. Navy went around the world between 1838 and 1842 the voyage amassed thousands of specimens and artifacts. They all became part of the Smithsonian collections.

The institution soon became irresistible to young scientists from 1857 to 1866, who formed the Megatherium Club. The Smithsonian played a crucial role in furthering science. The Smithsonian’s first expansion came with the construction of the Arts and Industries Building in 1881 and The National Zoological Park in 1889 to accommodate the Smithsonian’s Department of Living Animals. Many more extensions came after. Since more than 175 years ago, the Smithsonian has become the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. It has 21 museums, the National Zoo, and nine research facilities.