The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. Our stories, collections, and research span the arts, sciences, and humanities.
About the Smithsonian The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo—shaping the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world.
The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. Eleven museums are located along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., six others and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are nearby, two are in New York City, and two more are in the works.
The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum complex. Eleven museums are located along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., six others and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are nearby, two are in New York City, and two more are in the works. Explore the Smithsonian by topic and create a custom ...
Explore Smithsonian Bringing you everything under the sun Engage with the Smithsonian’s digital collections and research spanning the arts, sciences, and humanities. Featured Explore collections, stories, and research resources from across the Smithsonian.
Search collections and digital records Topics in History and Culture Connect with history and culture online at the Smithsonian's museums and cultural centers. Explore topics and stories from the National Museum of American History. Look through the many lenses of American women's history.
The Smithsonian Institution was established with funds from James Smithson (1765–1829), a British scientist who left his estate to the United States to found “at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” On August ...