The Smithsonian - America's Treasure House (Paperback)

The Smithsonian Americas Treasure House The Smithsonian AMERICAS TREASURE HOUSE by Webster Prentiss True ILLUSTRATED SHERIDAN HOUSE - NEW YORK Foreword The subject of this book is an organization, that belongs to the people of the United States of America. It was bequeathed to them by a far-seeing Englishman in the hope of benefiting all mankind. The outward, visible signs of Smithsons gift are widely known, but few are aware of the strange story behind it or its present extensive ramifications. Most Americans plan to visit Washington some time during their lives and nearly all those who do so include the Smith sonian in their sight-seeing. They see the public exhibits in its various buildings and go home thinking of it as a great museum of science and art. It is that but it is also much more. For the Smithsonian Institution is primarily a research organization set up to increase mans existing stock of knowledge. This it does through bureaus devoted solely to research and through behind the-scenes investigations in other bureaus which are labeled museums and art galleries The authors hope in offering this volume is threefold first, to provide for those who have seen the Smithsonian a record in type and pictures of its wealth of exhibits and to give some idea of its unseen researches and other activities second, to furnish for those who plan definitely to visit the Smithsonian a glimpse of what they may expect to see, which may help them derive greater enjoyment and benefit from their visit and 7 Foreword third, to create a visual image of a world-renowned American institution for those Americans who for various reasons do not expect to see it through their own eyes. The list of thosewho have been of assistance in furnishing and checking information is far too long to cite here. The author can only express his sincere thanks to practically all Smithsonian officials and scientists, without whose generous help the book would not have been possible. W. P. T. The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. Contents I. A Lonely Man and His Will 13 II. Our Planet Earth 29 III. The Myriad Forms of Life 53 IV. Man Himself 77 V. Mans Achievements 99 VI. History Before Our Eyes 121 VII Grounded Pknes 143 VIII. The Star We Live By 161 IX. Red Men and White 179 X. To the Ends of the Earth 203 XL Wild Animals at Close Range 221 XII. A World Art Center 239 XIII. Spreading Knowledge 257 XIV. Highlights and Sidelights ...... 279 Folios of Plates Plates I to 16. The Smithsonian buildings . . . Portraits of James Smithson . . . The new volcano, Paricutin . . . Californias first gold nuggets . ., Mineralogical specimens and gems . . . Dinosaur and other fossil skeletons . . . The earliest men on earth . ., The Smithsonian skull collection . . . facing p, 32 Plates 17 to 32. The Herbert Ward African collection . . . The Kensington Stone ., The Rosetta Stone . . . Easter Island statues, . . The Greenwood collec tion of early New England Colonial antiques, . . The original John Bull locomotive . . . The May flower Model and other model vessels in the water craft collection . . vO. riginal patent models of the first cotton gin, typewriter, sewing machines, etc. ., . The early telegraph and telephone instruments . . . The National Museums Division of Textiles . Veteran automobiles . . . facing p. Plates 33 to 49. George Washingtons Army uniform and field mess kit . . The originalStar-Spangled Banner, 10 Folios of Plates Thomas Jeffersons portable desk on which he wrote the Declaration of Independence . . . Lincolns life masks taken before and after the Civil War . . . Dresses of Americas first ladies . . . The Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk flight ., . The Langley Aero drome . . . Some historic aeroplanes . . . The Na tional Air Museum collection . . . Studying the Sun . . Historical American Indian pictures . . . Smith sonian anthropological explorations . . The head hunting Jivaro Indians . ., The ruins of Macchu picchu . . ...