The Smithsonian Institution was established by an act of Congress in 1846 as an independent federal trust instrumentality, a unique public-private partnership that has proven its value as a cultural and scientific resource for more than 175 years.
The federal commitment provides the foundation for all we do, and is especially helpful in attracting private support.
We leverage our federal funding to enrich the lives of the American people and advance our mission for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”