Description: The Smithsonian American Art Museum began as an art gallery in the Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle. A National Gallery of Art was formally created in 1906 in the US National Museum. In 1968, the collection moved to the American Art and Portrait Galleries, and its Renwick Gallery opened in 1972. History of the Smithsonian American Art MuseumAdditional Historic
Description: When James Smithson wrote his will on October 23, 1826, he made several bequests to people before adding the contingent clause that created the Smithsonian Institution. One bequest was to a resident of London’s notorious East End.
Description: [view in Spanish]The first international scientific expedition sponsored by the United States circumnavigated the globe between 1838 and 1842, gathering natural history collections so vast they were estimated to weigh 40 tons. The U.S. Congress resolved to preserve these artifacts "collected at the expense of the government...Information about the first international