S M I T H S O N I A N   I N S T I T U T I O N
N A T U R A L   M U S E U M   O F   H I S T O R Y

Washington D.C.

Wow, the Museum is enormous! Here's a small sampling of some of the exhibits inside; Geology, Gems, and Minerals, Insect Zoo, Mammal Hall, Dinosaurs, Discovery Room, Origins of Western Cultures, Popular Culture, Sports, The American Presidency, On Time, America on the Move, and The Stradivaris.

Inscribed on the west wing of the Museum you'll find the following inspirational panels:

"Of all the foundations of establishments for pious or charitable uses, which ever signalized the spirit of the age, or the comprehensive beneficence of the founder, none can be named more deserving of the approbation of mankind than the Smithsonian Institution, should it be faithfully carried into effect, with an earnestness and sagacity of application, and a steady perseverance of pursuit, proportioned to the means furnished by the will of the founder, and to the greatness and simplicity of his design as by himself declared, the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men, his name will be hereafter enrolled among the eminent benefactors of mankind, whoever increases knowledge multiplies the uses to which he is able to turn the gift of his Creator."

- John Quincy Adams, 6th President of the United States

"Every man is a valuable member of society who by his observations, researches, and experiments procures knowledge for men... It is in his knowledge that man has found his greatness and his happiness, the high superiority which he holds over the other animals who inhabit the earth with him, and consequently no ignorance is probably without loss to him, no error without evil... The particle and the planet are subject to the same laws and what is learned of one will be known of the other... I bequeath the whole of my property to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."

- James Smithson, Founder of the Smithsonian Institution

"Modern civilization depends on science... James Smithson was well aware that knowledge should not be viewed as existing in isolated parts, but as a whole, each portion of which throws light on all the other, and that the tendency of all is to improve the human mind, and give it new sources of power and enjoyment... narrow minds think nothing of importance but their own favorite pursuit, but liberal views exclude no branch of science or literature, for they all contribute to sweeten, to adorn, and to embellish life... science is the pursuit above all which impresses us with the capacity of man for intellectual and moral progress and awakens the human intellect to aspiration for a higher condition of humanity."

- Joseph Henry, 1st Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute