Behind the scenes at the Smithsonian, which was founded 10 August 1846

© Mark Kauffman/Getty Image

Assembling the Smithsonian

Today’s photo – taken in 1953 – depicts the dedication required to keep the Smithsonian Institution going and growing as a place where anyone can go to learn about the US, and the world beyond it. It was on this day in 1846 that US President James K. Polk signed the legislation establishing the Smithsonian. Getting there took some doing as Englishman James Smithson had donated the funds for an educational institution to the US in his will 20 years earlier. After the deaths of Smithson and his last surviving relative, Congress inherited 104,960 gold sovereigns as start-up money for the museum that would later bear Smithson’s name.