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The Smithsonian Institution was founded in 1846 through a bequest from British scientist James Smithson’s estate. Smithson never visited the US, but believed in promoting knowledge. The complex includes 19 museums and nine research centers and is closed only on Christmas Day.
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution is named after British scientist James Smithson. Born in France but naturalized in England at an early age, Smithson graduated from Pembroke College, Oxford in 1786. The Smithsonian was founded through a bequest of Smithson’s entire estate, including the collections he had amassed during his lifetime.
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No one knows why Smithson chose to provide the bequest for the establishment of the institution in the United States, which he never visited while alive, although his remains are interred at the Smithsonian. One school of thought holds that Smithson was intrigued by America’s experiment with democracy and believed that providing the foundation for the institution would achieve the goal of promoting “the increase and diffusion of knowledge” which he mentioned in terms of the he legacy of him.
The Smithsonian is a large complex that houses 19 different museums. The complex also includes nine research centers.
Visitors to the Smithsonian are welcomed every day of the year except one. The complex is closed on December 25 each year for Christmas Day.
