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The Smithsonian
Topic Started: Jun 1 2010, 06:12 PM (147 Views)
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An Empire for Liberty

August 10, 1846

Today President Polk signed into law an act establishing the Smithsonian Institution, a hybrid public-private organization dedicated to the "increase and diffusion" of scientific knowledge.

Original funding for the institute was provided by the estate of Mr. James Smithson, a British scientist, who directed in his will that his fortune be used for this purpose if his nephew died without heirs. The nephew having died in 1835, a charitable trust was established the following year with the sum of 104,960 gold sovereigns, but it took almost ten more years for the rest of the plans to fall into place.

A building will be constructed in Washington to house the Smithsonian's staff and collections, which already include specimens and artifacts gathered during the United States Exploring Expedition. Architect James Renwick, Jr. has been unanimously selected by the government committee to design the building.
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