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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Ljubljana, Slovenia
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The power of the forest
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Swinging into International Jazz Day
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Fall comes to Pando
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San Blas Islands, Panama
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Taking the scenic route to Sturgis
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A stunning sight in Mexico s wilderness
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Pasadena Chalk Festival supports local arts education
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World Laughter Day—it s a hoot
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North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Germany
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Class, please take out a No. 2 pencil…
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A gorge-ous mill in the Causses
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Three cheers for polar bears!
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A showcase for future fame
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Oud-West, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Celebrating Flag Day: ‘O long may it wave’
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A peek at an explosive peak
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Nursing the world to health
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A triumph of light
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A Carpathian Christmas celebration
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A big birthday for Big Bend
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Old Rock Day
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Burrowing owls
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Brown bears in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska
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A day of death and rebirth
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Look before you leap
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Porcupine
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
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Venice by night
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Portland celebrates its bounty