Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, comprising 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo. Founded in 1846 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., it safeguards over 155 million artifacts, works of art, and specimens spanning natural history, American history, art, culture, science, and space exploration. The Smithsonian serves as a global leader in preserving, researching, and sharing the breadth of human knowledge and the natural world.