The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 19 museums and the National Zoo—shaping the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world. The Institution was founded in 1846 with funds from the Englishman James Smithson (1765–1829) according to his wishes “under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”
The Smithsonian is one of the world’s foremost research centers in science, the arts, and the humanities. In addition to research pursued by the museums, the following facilities specialize in areas of inquiry:
- Archives of American Art
- Museum Conservation Institute
- Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
- Smithsonian Institution Archives
- Smithsonian Libraries
- Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
