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burned down in 1868, so instead, Barnum took his show of oddities of artifacts and specimens from various Washington and U.S. government
and curiosities on the road, folding them under the tent of his Barnum collections began pouring in, in what quickly became known as the
& Bailey Circus. “Government’s Attic.” These included thousands of animal specimens
As we entered the final decades of the 19th century, America’s tastes amassed during the United States Exploring Expedition that
were changing. Freaks and oddities were relegated to sideshow circumnavigated the globe between 1838 and 1842 and those collected
attractions and museums became a place of knowledge and history on by several military and civilian surveys of the American West, including
display. With the visitor in mind, museums began putting paintings the Mexican Boundary Survey and Pacific Railroad Surveys, which
into frames and objects on pedestals; the exhibitions themselves became assembled many Native American artifacts and natural history
less random, and text was added to guide the visitor through specimens. That was just the start of what would be decades of funding
exhibitions. Museums also adopted the more modern form of scientific explorations and expeditions into remote parts of the world that
organization to their collections, which saw objects and specimens brought back the specimens and objects that also helped to launch
displayed in a new, properly organized context designed to inform and natural history museums in cities across the country. These collections
educate. With these new frameworks in place, both the number and needed to be cataloged, conserved, housed, and displayed in keeping
types of museums in America were set to explode in the 20th century. with its charter to “increase and diffuse” knowledge. This required a
bigger plan, more facilities, and a more organized and thoughtful way
THE FOUNDING OF AMERICA’S to tell America’s story and educate the public.
Today, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education,
NATIONAL MUSEUM and research complex, with 19 museums holding the nation’s history,
Around the time Barnum’s American the National Zoo, and nine research facilities under its charter.
Museum was gaining traction,
Congress established the Smithsonian MUSEUMS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Institution, the outcome of an unex- Today, there are more than 17,500 institutions throughout the
pected bequest from an Englishman United States designated as a museum, displaying art, artifacts, local
named James Smithson (ca. 1765- history, pop culture, decorative objects, natural history, special interest
1829), who bequeathed a legacy gift to collections, and anything else you can think of to more than 850
our country for the establishment of million guests annually, pre-COVID. Almost 70 percent of these
an institution for the “increase and museums opened after 1950, finding homes for local history
diffusion of knowledge.” collections, cultural artifacts, items from our nation’s history, presidential
The motives behind Smithson’s archives, decorative object collections, and just about anything else that
bequest remain mysterious. He never reflects our national, cultural, and personal interests.
traveled to the United States and seems Unfortunately, with so many particularly smaller public museums
to have had no correspondence with
James Smithson (1816) dependent on ticket sales for their survival, museums across the board
by Henri-Joseph Johns anyone here. Some have suggested that have been heavily impacted by the pandemic – here in America and
his bequest was motivated in part by elsewhere around the work – but like the objects they preserve and
revenge against the rigidities of British society, which had denied display, museums may be endangered but they are committed to the
Smithson, who was illegitimate, the right to use his father’s name. role they play in society and the stories their collections tell.
Others have suggested it reflected his interest in the Enlightenment During COVID, many found new and creative ways to connect
ideals of democracy and universal education. with patrons and reach new fans through virtual gallery tours, online
After debating using the gift to establish a library or a university, programs, lectures, storytimes, and vlogs. These online experiences
Congress instead decided that knowledge could best be increased and were intimate, interesting, accessible, and convenient in ways different
diffused in the new republic by creating a public museum. The from a physical visit. They also broke down the brick-and-mortar
Smithsonian Institution was signed into law by President James K. barriers of geography and accessibility when it comes to sharing their
Polk in 1846. collections with an interested public. Now as museums re-open their
The Smithsonian’s mission was to focus on scientific discovery and front doors they are faced with finding the right balance between what
exhibiting objects as organized collections with a story to tell and they can physically and virtually provide, and what their new visitors
knowledge to impart. This more scientific approach to collecting and want and are willing to pay for. Although recognizing that nothing
collections stood in stark contrast to Barnum’s brand of museums as a replaces a live experience, what they may find is that the public likes
form of entertainment, where the real, the odd, and the fake were options, and like everything else, that may now forever include virtual
displayed side-by-side. options as museums once again redefine their intent and find their
From the outset, the Institute was quickly overwhelmed. Thousands audience in the 21st century.

The original Smithsonian Institution Building, commonly
known as the “Castle,” was designed by architect James
Renwick and constructed between 1847 and 1855.
The Castle houses the Smithsonian Visitor Center and
administrative offices, as well as the James Smithson crypt.

20 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles