Smithson's gamble The Smithsonian Institution in American life, 1836-1906

This dense and thoroughly researched tome traces the history of the Smithsonian Institution throughout the nineteenth century, starting with its unusual origins as an estate bequeathed by an Englishman who resided in Genoa, Italy. The bulk of the book focuses on Joseph Henry's long tenure as the first secretary of the Smithsonian, but Crouch also covers its progress under Spencer Baird and Samuel Langley. The Smithsonian fluctuated between being a research-based institution and an educational museum for the public, and the ever-shifting balance came with plenty of politics and difficulties. Its storied history also reflects the U.S. as a whole, with the museum's research, displays, and leaders' attitudes reflective of then-timely topics, such as Manifest Destiny, abolition, Darwin's evolutionary theory, aeronaut technology, the great fair exhibitions, and even the discovery of dinosaur fossils. With anecdotes from historical figures and a sharp understanding of documentation processes from nearly two centuries ago, this will answer any questions scholars, historians, scientists, or museum enthusiasts have about how the Smithsonian came to be.