In 1846, when Congress authorized an institution "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge," no one could have predicted what the Smithsonian Institution would eventually become. Today, on our 175th anniversary, the Smithsonian is the world"s largest museum, education, and research complex. And in the decades that I have worked here—as an educator, curator, museum director, and now as Secretary—I have watched us grow into a vital and vibrant 21st-century institution: conducting groundbreaking research, becoming a national leader in K-12 education, creating new museums that represent the American experience more fully, and equipping our audiences to tackle the world"s most pressing challenges.
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch on the institution s 175th anniversary
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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National Lighthouse Day
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A peek at an explosive peak
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Gamboa Crater, Mars
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International Womens Day
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Sky island views
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Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
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An octagonal architectural treasure
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Art in the chapel
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Haaga Rhododendron Park
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Al-Khazneh in Petra, Jordan
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A bridge too Fawr
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Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China
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Toledo, Spain
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Over the boardwalk
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Happy Boxing Day!
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Water colors
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That s quite a schnoz, baby tapir
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A desert arts pop-up, just popped up
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Holidays in the Venetian Lagoon
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Hallstatt, Austria
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Jazzed for Mardi Gras
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Red lechwe, Okavango Delta, Botswana
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Making it work—in Norway
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Happy Fathers Day!
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Stepping into autumn
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World Frog Day
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An endless journey
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An avian predator built for the snow
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Brotherly cubs
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Aw shucks, It s Oyster Day