The Smithsonian: 150 Years of Adventure, Discovery, and Wonder by James Conaway

Description

A gala celebration of all that stuff in America’s attic, which, in the Smithsonian’s omnidirectional collection philosophy, includes Lincoln’s hat and lunch boxes, Allosaurus, and Kermit the Frog.

A fervent admirer of the institution, Conaway backstops the 400 photos with a narrative of the place’s beginning in James Smithson’s bequest “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” Constant redefining of that mission, first evident as officials wrangled over whether to build a library, a museum, or a laboratory, has built up the eclectic collections and activities of the Smithsonian ever since the Castle was built a century and a half ago. Consequently, the photo subjects so shift around to various enthusiasms–paleontology, political paraphernalia, industrial technologies–that viewing this album is akin to leafing through a year’s worth of Smithsonian magazines.

The Smithsonian is in more than just the entertainment business: sidebars relate its scientific expeditions over the years, while profiles of notable directors and staffers add a human touch to this diverse, glossy tribute to D.C.’s most popular attraction.