Smithson's Gamble: The Smithsonian Institution in American Life, 1836-1906 - Hardcover

$39.95

Smithson's Gamble: The Smithsonian Institution in American Life, 1836-1906 - Hardcover

Name: Smithson's Gamble: The Smithsonian Institution in American Life, 1836-1906 - Hardcover
Brand: BooksCloud
SKU: 9781588347916
Price: 39.95 USD
Availability: InStock

by Tom D. Crouch

$39.95

Book Overview

Discover the incredible history of the Smithsonian as it grew to meet the needs of a nation

Follow the fascinating growth and development of the world's largest museum and research complex during its first 60 years. The English chemist and mineralogist James Smithson never visited the United States, yet he bequeathed his estate to the country to establish the Smithsonian Institution. The rest is history, told in rich detail in Smithson's Gamble. This book reveals how, as it defined a role rooted in curiosity and exploration, the Smithsonian helped to shape the nation's developing identity.

The Smithsonian evolved from a small, narrowly focused organization into an institution leading the way in fields from astrophysics to zoology. Smithsonian researchers, and the hundreds of citizen scientists who they recruited, created a collection that documented the natural and human history of a continent. The American conservation movement and a national weather service are rooted at the Smithsonian. Smithson's Gamble is filled with fascinating characters, twists and turns, and moments of triumph and tragedy, complete with political machinations, a bit of backstabbing, accusations of murder, and the occasional scandal.

Tom D. Crouch, a Smithsonian veteran of almost 45 years, paints a robust picture of a unique American establishment and its lasting legacies. He chronicles the trials and errors of an increasingly complex institution and all the incredible joys and innovations resulting from Smithson's gamble.

ISBN	9781588347916
Author	Tom D. Crouch
Publisher	Smithsonian Books
Genre	History, Arts, and Education
Format	Hardcover
Published	April 2025
Language	ENG- English
Pages	416
Weight	1.0 lb
Target Audience	Adults
Print Size	Standard Print

1% fer Each of the Seven Seas

Every purchase sends 7% of our profits to The Ocean Cleanup. No fine print, no opt-in — just how we sail.

Whoever Ye Be, Welcome Aboard

Queer lit, music, art, philosophy, fiction — stories for every kind of soul. Come as ye are, matey.

More by Tom D. Crouch