Discover the Wonders: Top 13 Fun Facts About the Smithsonian You Need to Know!

1. Squirrel's Dream: The Massive Smithsonian

If a squirrel with a Ph.D. decided to go nuts with its vast collection of curiosities, it just might rival the Smithsonian Institution: This colossal haven of knowledge houses over 154 million items across 19 museums, 21 libraries, nine research centers, and a zoo, mostly located in Washington D.C., with some facilities in Maryland, New York, and Virginia, and welcomes more than 30 million visitors each year, mostly free of charge!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Coraline's Button Dream: The Smithsonian's Collection

Buttons, buttons, who's got the buttons? The Smithsonian, that's who! In a move straight out of the button-obsessed Coraline movie (but infinitely less creepy), the Smithsonian has amassed a treasure trove of circular delights: Their National Museum of American History proudly boasts a collection of over 1,000 buttons, showcasing everything from political statements to fabulous fashion statements.
Source => americanhistory.si.edu

Did you know the world's first public museum, Ennigaldi-Nanna's museum, dates back to 530 BCE and was curated by a Babylonian princess? Discover the fascinating history and Hollywood connection of this ancient treasure trove!

=> Fun Facts about Museums

3. Fishy Alcohol Shots: Preserved Specimens

Imagine being a fish out of water and doing shots with your fishy friends: The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History houses a Vertebrate Zoology department that boasts a vast collection of fish specimens preserved in alcohol, securely stored in climate-controlled environments, all in the name of scientific research and aquatic life study.
Source => commonnaturalist.com

4. Rain of Gold: James Smithson's Bequest

Before the Smithsonian was even a twinkle in America's eye, a British scientist made it rain gold across the pond: James Smithson's generous bequest in 1838 gifted the legendary institution over $500,000, supporting its mission to "increase and diffusion of knowledge among men," leaving a truly golden legacy.
Source => si.edu

5. Indiana Jones' Hoarder Paradise: Smithsonian Treasures

If Indiana Jones were a hoarder: Smithsonian's colossal treasure trove houses over 155 million mind-blowing relics, and guess what? Just 1% of it ever sees the light of day! With artifacts ranging from magnificent meteorites to Dorothy's magical ruby slippers, this world-renowned cornucopia of knowledge consists of 19 museums, galleries, and even a National Zoological Park, inspiring awe among scholars and laymen alike as they get lost within its labyrinth-like walls.
Source => si.edu

6. Snail-Mail Voyage: Postal Museum

You've got mail – and the Smithsonian's got the ride to prove it! Visa restrictions don't apply when you embark on a snail-mail voyage through the fascinating history of what brought postcards, bills, and love letters to your doorstep in a lil' red wagon: The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum houses vintage mail planes, a stagecoach, and a 1931 Ford Model A postal truck among other exhibits, along with the world's largest stamp gallery to showcase an astonishing array of historical letters, stamps, and interactive activities for children and adults alike.
Source => si.edu

7. Extraterrestrial Playground: National Air and Space Museum

If you've ever wanted to rub shoulders with a space-rock or become friends with a piece of the moon, then the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is your extraterrestrial playground: Housing the world's largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft, including the original 1903 Wright Flyer, Chuck Yeager's Bell X-1, and John Glenn's Friendship 7 spacecraft, this esteemed museum not only serves as an aviation and spaceflight research hub but also lets visitors touch a lunar rock sample for that out-of-this-world experience. Don't miss the SR-71 Blackbird and space shuttle Discovery, ready to greet you at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia!
Source => si.edu

8. Volcano Vigilante: Global Volcanism Program

Holy ash clouds, Batman! Have you ever wished you could be a volcano vigilante, tracking down those sneaky peaks wreaking geological havoc across the globe? Fret not, fellow lava lover: The Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program has a "Volcanoes of the World" database that lets you filter by name, type, location, and even population within blast radius, all downloadable into an Excel spreadsheet for your late-night, magma-crunching pleasure!
Source => volcano.si.edu

9. Car Parking Superheroes: National Zoo Benefits

Feeling like a car parking superhero, leaping from meter to meter in a single bound? Smithsonian to the rescue!: While entry to the National Zoo is free with reserved passes, visitors can also savor the sweet taste of paid parking slots by reserving them in advance – and members at certain levels even get it for free, along with walk-up entry for six! Smithsonian's membership: more powerful than a locomotive!
Source => secure.nationalzoo.si.edu

10. First Ladies' Fashion Showdown: Iconic Gowns

With more costume changes than an episode of RuPaul's Drag Race, America's First Ladies have been serving up serious fashion statements for centuries: The Smithsonian's First Ladies exhibition showcases the influential role of presidential spouses, displaying over two dozen iconic gowns, including those worn by Frances Cleveland, Lou Hoover, Jacqueline Kennedy, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama, and highlighting their evolving impact on American society over the past 200 years.
Source => americanhistory.si.edu

11. Secretly Taxidermied: Lady Thylacine's Hideaway

Who'd have thought that behind every curtain, there might just be a taxidermied lady thylacine? Thats right folks, even in the hallowed halls of the Smithsonian, famous ladies tend to lounge around behind veils, secretly plotting their comebacks: But alas, the comeback for this thylacine never will occur. Smithsonian's Hall of Mammals displays her mounted skin, brought to the National Zoo in 1902 before she had two offspring. Contrary to popular lore, current research suggests that it was actually a mix of climate change and overhunting by Aboriginals, not those sneaky dingoes, that led to their extinction on mainland Australia.
Source => sixth-extinction.tumblr.com

12. Radiator Royalty: Plymouth Radiator Emblem

Feeling a little "radiator envy" when examining vintage vehicles? Behold the iconic Plymouth Radiator Emblem: A shiny piece of Mayflower ship history that accompanied American Plymouth automobiles on their land-based journeys from 1928 to 2001, now nestled comfortably in the National Museum of American History's transportation collections.
Source => americanhistory.si.edu

13. Cinderella's Hope Diamond: Smithsonian's Royally Charming Gem

Rumor has it that the Hope Diamond is waiting for its rightful owner like Cinderella's glass slipper, but the truth is far less magical: The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History became the gem's fairy godmother when it received the donation from Harry Winston in 1958, and since then, it has been royally charming visitors from all around the world.
Source => naturalhistory.si.edu