Smithsonian Institution houses over 157 million artifacts and specimens

Key Points:

• The Smithsonian Institution, founded in 1846, is the world's largest museum complex, operating nearly 700 facilities across multiple states and housing over 157 million artifacts and specimens.
• It runs 21 museums, the National Zoo, 14 education and research centers, and partners with more than 200 affiliate institutions, attracting over 30 million visitors annually and reaching millions more through educational resources.
• The Smithsonian plays a significant role in national education, offering free lesson plans, virtual field trips, and professional development for educators, as well as collaborating with colleges on internships, fellowships, and research programs.
• Recently, the institution has faced criticism from conservatives and the Trump administration for what they describe as left-wing messaging, with a White House report accusing the Smithsonian of shifting from history to activism under its current leadership.
• Smithsonian director Anthea Hartig has been noted for linking history with social justice advocacy, a stance highlighted in the White House report as part of a broader concern about political influence within cultural institutions.