Two Things You Didn't Know About the Smithsonian.

You've been to the Smithsonian, right?  You know, our very biggest National museum?  If not, you should.  It's worth the trip to Washington, D.C. all by its self.

If so, you no doubt love it.  As I do.  In fact, I've said if there's a purgatory, I want to serve out my sentence at the Smithsonian.  For it would take another lifetime to see it all.  

So I thought I share with you, my Fellow Patriots, a couple of little factoids you might enjoy learning.  So here goes...

     -  How did it get its name?  

There was this guy James Smithson, see?  He was a miner and minerologist in 18th Century England.  He was very successful.  And he loved America and our system of Gubmint.  So much so that he wanted to visit.  Unfortunatly, he died before he could do so.  But he left the sizable fortune of $500,000 to the United States of America to be used however our Congress chose.  

And BTW, $500 Grand was back then was equivalent to about $12,798,000 today!

Anyway, our Fearless Leaders decided to use those funds to create the very best museum in all the Land.  And they surely have.  In fact, it's the largest museum in the Entire World!  And they chose to name it after Smithson, and so we have...ta da!...The Smithsonian.

     -  Where'd all those animals come from?  

You know that gigondo elephant when you enter the "Natural History Museum?"  The one raring up on its hind legs?  It's just about the biggest elephant ever collected.  It's right there in the Rotunda, trunk in the air, tusks flashing, looking pretty damn fearsome.  Well, his name is "Henry."  And he's been there since 1911.  

That's because he was shot in Darkest Africa and dragged back to D.C. by one ex-President Teddy Roosevelt.  He'd just left the Presidency and the Carnegie Mellon Foundation decided to fund his trip to Africa in 1909 and 1910 to collect specimens for the Smithsonian.  And boy did he ever!

He, his son and his Team of more than 100, shot, ya' ready for it?  23,435 animals on this safari.  More than 500 elephants.  More than 2,000 lions and tigers.  More than 1,000 jaguars and leopards.  More than 400 Cape Buffalo.  And impala and kudu and gazelles and monkeys.  In all, Roosevelt collected some of every species known to man.  And found some 300 new ones while on this safari.  In fact, the Smithsonian has more than 590,000 mammals in their warehouses.  Only about 5% of their mammals are on display.  

You might be surprised to learn that it's comprised of 21 buildings, 14 research and education centers and a zoo.  It houses over 150 Million objects and specimens, although most are not displayed.   

So when you next visit the Museum, you can marvel at the fact most of the animals on display have been there for more than 100 years!  Like I said, I've been there 8 times and still haven't seen everything.  And I intend to go back.  

Living or dead...