Page 132 - REALLY What A time Book IX

REALLY SO WHAT
What A Time

FAMILY OUTINGS

Secretary of Treasure donated his collection of art to the
United States. It concentrated on American Art, but has
pieces from all over the world, including purchases in 1921
from the Hermitage in Russia. It was years afterward that
visiting this gallery or others in town wasn’t a big snooze for
me.

The Smithsonian was different. It has an interesting history.
The first building was built in 1947. It’s still standing and is
called ‘The Castle’. If you’ve been to Washington it’s the red
brick building in the middle of the mall.
James Smithson was an English scientist that left lots of
money to an heir who left it to the United States in 1835. It’s
said to have been $500,000 dollars in gold sovereigns in over
one hundred sacks. Or as they say today, about 11 Billion
Bucks.

The money was mishandled and after years Congress was
persuaded to reinstate it with interest. Today the Smithsonian
Institution is not just a collection of 100 million plus items, but
includes 19 museums, 9 research centers, the National Zoo,
and has facilities in 5 other states, Panama and Puerto Rico
besides the District of Columbia.
I’m sure Mom believed you didn’t have to over-do a visit.
That meant we’d visit one or two exhibits and then return
another day. For instance, the Freer Gallery is dedicated to the
Chinese collection from it’s name sake. It was the first private

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