Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="220" caption="Many scientists lived in the Smithsonian Institution Building in its early years. These four young naturalists lived in the building and often collected for the Smithsonian while on exploring expeditions in the mid-nineteenth century. Clockwise from upper left: Robert Kennicott, Henry Ulke, Henry Bryant and William
Description: We’re taking a look at the various watercolors the Smithsonian Institution has collected both past and present, highlighting the diversity in artists, technique, unique painting effect, and versatility to create anything from insects to cityscapes.
Description: Why would an English chemist donate his fortune to the United States, a newly formed country he had never visited? We will likely never know exactly why in 1826 James Smithson chose to bequeath more than half a million dollars to create the Smithsonian Institution.