Museum Smithsonian National American U.S People Visiting Institution

The Smithsonian Institution was "established" (created) in the early 1800s, when a British man named James Smithson left his "estate" (all the money and property that he owned) to the United States to create a Smithsonian Institution that would increase and spread knowledge among all people.

Today there are 19 Smithsonian Museums that are free and open to the public, meaning that anyone can go there and there are no admission charges. Some of the most famous Smithsonian Museums are the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, and many art galleries. But there are "lesser known" (less famous; less well-known) museums that you may not have heard of.

One is the "National Postal Museum," which explains the history of the U.S. "Postal Service," or the organization that delivers the mail. The museum also has a large "collection" (group of objects) of U.S. stamps.

Another Smithsonian Museum is the National Portrait Gallery. A "portrait" is a painting of a person, and this museum is full of portraits of famous people in American history.

The newest Smithsonian Museum is the National Museum of the American Indian, which has exhibits about "indigenous" (native) cultures of North and South America. Similarly, the Anacostia Community Museum has exhibits about the history and culture of "African American" communities, or black people who live in the U.S.

Finally, the National Zoological Park is also part of the Smithsonian Institute. It is a "zoo" (park with animals) that has more than 400 "species" (types) of animals that people can see. It also has many educational programs for visitors to learn more about the animals.