The Smithsonian; 150 Years of Adventure, Discovery, and Wonder
New York, Washington, DC: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. [Borozi Book], and Smithsonian Books, 1995. First Edition [Stated], First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. Format is approximately 9.25 inches by 11.25 inches. 432 pages. Over 500 illustrations (many in color). I: Bright Lamps, Bold Adventure: 1846-1878; Chapter One: A Gift; Chapter Two; A Hole in the Floor; Chapter Three: To the Territories; Chapter Four: Centennial; II: Universe: 1879-1949; Chapter Five: The Americans; Chapter Six: Icarus on the Mall; Chapter Seven: A Voice from the Cambrian; Chapter Eight: Celestial, Terrestrial.; III: The Living Museum: 1950-1996; Chapter Nine: Stirring; Chapter Ten: A Wind in the Attic; Chapter Eleven: Noon over the Mall; and Chapter Twelve: Continuum. Also contains Acknowledgments, Picture Credits, and Index. James Conaway is a former Wallace Stegner fellow at Stanford University, and the author of thirteen books, including, The Smithsonian, Napa: The Story of an American Eden, the nonfiction bestseller about the wine country and those responsible for California’s winemaking triumphs, and its sequel, The Far Side of Eden. He is the author of the novels Nose, The Big Easy and World’s End. Conaway has written for multiple magazines, among them Harper’s, The Atlantic, Smithsonian, Saveur, Gourmet, and National Geographic Traveler. Truly, the Smithsonian is a university in the purest sense--a place that seeks to make everything comprehensible. Its progress toward this noble goal is richly documented in Conaway's narrative, which puts the proper emphasis on the offbeat characters whose escapes and endeavors have made the Smithsonian what it is today. This commemorative book--a mosaic of colorful photographs, paintings, maps, prints, anecdotes, and profiles--wholly succeeds in matching its subject in both spirit and scope. The Smithsonian Institution, also known simply as The Smithsonian, is a trust instrumentality of the United States composed as a group of museums and research centers. It was founded on August 10, 1846, "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". The institution is named after its founding donor, British scientist James Smithson. It was originally organized as the "United States National Museum", but that name ceased to exist as an administrative entity in 1967. Termed "the nation's attic" for its eclectic holdings of 154 million items, the Institution's 19 museums, 21 libraries, nine research centers, and zoo include historical and architectural landmarks, mostly located in the District of Columbia. Additional facilities are located in Maryland, New York, and Virginia. More than 200 institutions and museums in 45 states, Puerto Rico, and Panama are Smithsonian Affiliates. The Institution's 30 million annual visitors are admitted without charge. Its annual budget is around $1.2 billion, with two-thirds coming from annual federal appropriations. Other funding comes from the Institution's endowment, private and corporate contributions, membership dues, and earned retail, concession, and licensing revenue. Institution publications include Smithsonian and Air & Space magazines. Condition: Very good / Very good.
Keywords: Smithsonian Institution, James Smithson, National Museum, Charles Greeley Abbot, Spencer Baird, Alexander Graham Bell, Expeditions, Joseph Henry, Samuel Pierpont Langley, Aviation, Natural History, Dillon Ripley, Charles Walcott
ISBN: 0679441751
[Book #82583]
Price: $100.00