There aren’t many who can say they have had a 173rd birthday, but today is that day for The Smithsonian Institute. Established on August 10, 1846, and named after its founding donor, British scientist, James Smithson, it was originally organized as the United States National Museum. That name, however, was no longer used after 1967. Currently, the Smithsonian has 19 museums, nine research centers, a zoo, and it includes historical and architectural landmarks, mostly located in the District of Columbia. The museum boasts 30 million annual visitors and has been termed “the nation’s attic”. Its annual budget is $1.2 billion with two-thirds coming from the federal government. Happy birthday to the Smithsonian!
