Every Collection has a StoryThe Archives holds records that document the Smithsonian’s people, events, buildings, and research. The history of the Smithsonian is a vital part of the history of American experience, scientific exploration, and international cultural understanding.
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Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory staff, including Secretary Samuel P. Langley, and Observatory acting director, Charles Greeley Abbot, travel to Wadesboro, North Carolina, to observe an eclipse of the sun.More
The Smithsonian’s Second Secretary Spencer Fullerton Baird dedicated his career to creating a great national museum at the Smithsonian, the U.S. National Museum that opened in 1881. Learn about Baird and the fulfillment of his dreams. More
