Reflections from History and Faith: The Smithsonian Institution - ‘The Nation’s Attic’

By Jeff Olson

A nation’s history is so much more than just a compilation of facts, names, and events. In America, it is a story of humanity’s challenge, struggle, defeat and victory to learn, institute and preserve liberty under law and successfully reconcile the claims of authority with the claims of freedom.

Capturing this magnificent epic and preserving it for future generations has been done through many books and other documents as it has through the collection of artifacts, artwork and other items which reflected America’s historical, cultural, religious and scientific heritage. No organization, no entity has excelled at this achievement more than has the Smithsonian Institution.

What was behind the beginnings of such an institution? It originated from a relatively unknown British scientist by the name of James Smithson (17651829). Smithson had been a fellow of the Royal Society of London since he was 22 years old, publishing numerous scientific papers on mineral composition, geology, and chemistry. In 1802, he overturned popular scientific opinion by proving that zinc carbonates were true carbonate minerals. The carbonate “calamine” was re-named “smithsonite” in honor of Smithson by Francois Sulpice Beudant, British chemist, minerologist, and benefactor of the Smithsonian Institution.

When James Smithson died, he left behind a will with a peculiar footnote. In the event that his only nephew died without any heirs, Smithson decreed that the whole of his estate would go to “the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.”

Smithson’s curious bequest to a country that he had never visited aroused significant attention on both sides of the Atlantic. Since Smithson had never been to America nor corresponded about this with anyone here, American officials were quite surprised and perplexed by this will.

Six years later in 1835 his nephew, Henry James Hungerford, died and without any heirs. On July 1, 1836, it amounted to a fortune worth then the equivalent of just over $515,000, or just over 15 million in 2021 dollars.

Seven years later Smithson’s bequest became a reality. On Dec. 1, 1845, the U.S. Senate passed “An act organizing the Smithsonian Institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” Provisions of the act included a “suitable” building with rooms for the “reception and arrangement” of profit corporation of scientific, educational, and cultural interests composed of 19 museums and galleries, 9 research centers, the National Zoological Park, and 168 affiliate museums around the world. Its collection includes over 137 million items.

The Smithsonian’s funding comes from several sources. Sixty-two percent of its funding comes from the U.S. Government, with the remaining thirty-eight percent from contributions from private sources (endowments; donations from individuals, corporations and foundations; and memberships) and revenues from the Smithsonian Enterprises operation (magazines, mail-order catalog, product development, entertainment, shops, restaurants and concessions). There were about 5.2 million visitors at the museums and the National Zoo in 2021.

Today, the Smithsonian Institution continues its mission of increasing and diffusing knowledge among the people. The enormous assortment of its holdings has earned the Smithsonian the nickname “the nation’s attic.”

Congress accepted Smithson’s gift to the nation and pledged the faith of the United States to this charitable trust. President Andrew Jackson sent diplomat Richard Rush to England to negotiate for transfer of the funds, and two years later Rush set sail for home with 11 boxes containing a total of 104,960 gold sovereigns, 8 shillings, and 7 pence, as well as Smithson’s mineral collection, library, scientific notes, and personal effects.

In September 1838, Smithson’s legacy was delivered to the mint at Philadelphia. After the gold was melted down, natural history objects, a library, and an art gallery.

Other provisions stated that all objects of art and natural history belonging to the United States should be transferred to and held within the Smithsonian. One hundred seventy-seven years ago this week, Aug. 10, 1846, President James K. Polk signed the act into law, officially establishing the Smithsonian Institution.

Since then, the Smithsonian Institution has become the world’s largest museum complex and research organization. It is a federally chartered non-

To this day, the world’s greatest collection of exhibits, artwork, artifacts and scientific specimens is on display for all to see and to remind us of America’s rich history and heritage and of the legacy that we need to carry forward.

By Richie Lawry

The stately two-story house stood on the banks of Lake Houston. She has never seen anything like it in the 40 years since her family lovingly built her. Wave after wave of heavy rains battered her. The winds are swirling around her, and she is creaking and groaning as she struggles to withstand the storm. In the yard, trees are swaying madly, screaming as their limbs strain against the onslaught. The house begins to be tested: the roof, the windows, and the walls are all under attack. The house worries that she will be damaged and her family will not be able to live there anymore.

When the winds finally stop, the stately house realizes she is still standing. She has made it through the storm. Her mind drifts back to the time that the family built her. Dad was a builder by trade, creating the stately house where he would raise his family. Mom loved the new place and its delightful setting on the shores of Lake Houston. The kids enjoyed bringing their friends home to the stately house. They especially liked the swimming pool in the backyard. Mom was happy when laughing kids were having a good time at her house. The stately house was thankful that she was still standing and that the family would soon be able to return home.

Even though the winds stopped battering the stately house, the rains continued to fall. Over the next two days, over 30 inches of rain fell. The water levels of Lake Houston rise until they are lapping at the front door of the house. But it keeps raining, and the water keeps rising. Soon there are several inches of water on the floor, and the water is rushing in at the front, the sides, and the back. To the stately house, it feels like an invasion. By the time the lake reaches its highest level, deep water covers the entire first floor of the stately house. She is waterlogged and despondent. When the water levels start to recede, the house wonders what will become of her. Will her family ever be able to live in her again?