the United
States National Museum, located in
Washington,
DC. It consists of two sections or
major collections (separated into two museums since 1964)-
American history and
technology, and natural
history. The
American history and
technology section (now called the National Museum of
American History) includes the US
government's
collection of historic and scientific objects, valued at millions of dollars. For
example, it includes the desk at which
Thomas Jefferson wrote the first version of the
Declaration of Independence, the first telephone and the first sewing
machine. The natural
history part of the museum (now called the National Museum of Natural
History)
ranks as one of the
world's
major centers for the
study of the natural sciences. It includes such displays as dinosaurs, gems and minerals, mammals,
birds,
marine life and others. Both museums are under the
administration of the
Smithsonian Institute, a
group of scientific and cultural institutes which were created in 1846 from a
grant given by the British scientist James Smithson. The
Smithsonian Institute is overseen by a
committee including the US
vice-
president and several other
government leaders. It carries on
research and educational
work and publishes the monthly
magazine Smithsonian, as well as many scientific and scholarly journals and books. Some of the
government photographers and scientists up in the National Museum were
patient enough to teach me about photography, I
read books on the
subject,
read this and that, even worked in
professional darkrooms.
short for the United
States National Museum, a part of the
Smithsonian Institution (an
organization founded in the US in 1846 with the
purpose of "the increase and diffusion of
knowledge among men"). The United
States National Museum is located in
Washington,
DC and consists of two parts the Museum of Natural
History and the Museum of
History and
Technology. Some of the
government photographers and scientists up in the National Museum were
patient enough to teach me about photography, I
read books on the
subject,
read this and that, even worked in
professional darkrooms.
- Studying Introduction (18 June 64) a
reference to the United
States National Museum, founded in 1846 and located in
Washington,
DC, USA. The museum contains exhibits on the cultural, social, scientific and technological developments of the United
States, as well as exhibits on natural
history, geology,
archeology, etc. The museum also conducts
research work and provides various
college-
level educational programs.
short for the United
States National Museum, a part of the
Smithsonian Institution (an
organization founded in the US in 1846 with the
purpose of "the increase and diffusion of
knowledge among men"). The United
States National Museum is located in
Washington,
DC and consists of two parts the Museum of Natural
History and the Museum of
History and
Technology.