CENTURY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

THE 21st-CENTURY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

When British scientist James Smithson gave his fortune to the new nation of the United States to create an institution devoted to the "increase and diffusion of knowledge," and Congress subsequently established this Institution, no one involved could have imagined what the Smithsonian would become. From the single building on the National Mall, commonly called the "Castle," the Smithsonian grew both in size and esteem, eventually becoming the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, a place that has a profound impact on people locally, nationally, and globally. As a historian, I am a fervent advocate of using history to understand our present. As we prepare to celebrate the Smithsonian's 175th anniversary in 2021, it is important for us to not only reflect on what this repository of treasures, research, and scholarship has meant for the nation and the world, but also to look ahead to its future and imagine what it can become.

Having worked at the Smithsonian in many capacities over the years - at the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of American History, as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and now as the Secretary, overseeing 155 million objects and 6,400 employees and 7,300 volunteers working across 19 museums, 21 libraries, nine research centers, and the National Zoo - I have a unique perspective on how the Smithsonian has affected our world. I have seen firsthand what the continued support of Congress, the Administration, and the American people has meant to us. That is why I was greatly encouraged by the development of a new strategic plan for the Institution, particularly its call for "greater reach, greater relevance, and profound impact." It will build the necessary framework to develop major initiatives and activities while also allowing us to take bold action to realize our full potential and embody the "better angels of our nature," as President Abraham Lincoln predicted for our nation.

Greater Reach

A key component of having greater reach is continuing the Smithsonian's transformation into a virtual museum. Nothing replaces the authentic objects we have on display, but we need to share these treasures with the millions who cannot visit us in person, by using all the digital tools available to us. We have already done impressive work in the digital realm. In FY 2019, our websites attracted more than 154 million visitors, we had more than 17 million social media followers, and our Smithsonian podcast Sidedoor reached people in all 50 states and more than 146 countries, with more than three million downloads to date.

For years, we have been digitizing our objects, specimens, archival materials, and library books to make them more accessible to the public. Our museums and libraries have created digital images for nearly five million objects, specimens and books, and electronic records for more than 32 million artifacts

is still central to our mission as we continue to base our work on the ethos "learn something, teach something."

Today, we have many education, learning, and discovery spaces in our museums and research centers. Our Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) program, STEM curriculum, and digital resources from the Smithsonian Science Education Center have supported STEM teaching and learning in nearly 1,700 districts in every U.S. state and 29 countries since its founding. The Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access Learning Lab website offers teachers and students free digital access to more than one million resources from across the Institution. Smithsonian Affiliate museums host speakers, traveling exhibitions, and webinars, bringing educational offerings into many communities across the country. In FY 2019, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service took large and small exhibitions to regional museums and provided many educational materials to schools and libraries nationwide.

Building on this history and reputation, I plan to take the necessary steps to apply innovative thinking to ensure that we are a national leader in pre-K-12 education as well as lifelong learning. Educational materials based on our science and scholarship can enhance the ways students and teachers engage in 21st century learning. We are developing a model of the future of education and museums through a collaboration with the Washington, DC public school system, and sharing that work nationwide and abroad, drawing on best practices and lessons learned to make the most effective use of our resources.

Looking Ahead

Even though 2019 was a transitional year for the Institution, our accomplishments underscored the incredible impact the Smithsonian has. The National Museum of Natural History opened its David H. Koch Hall of Fossils Deep Time exhibition to great acclaim. The Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative began, reaching a diverse and international audience, amplifying the voices of women, and empowering and inspiring people from all walks of life. The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with a number of events, including displaying the newly renovated Neil Armstrong spacesuit to the public, and projecting video of Apollo 11's liftoff onto the Washington Monument. The extensive NASM renovation project continues, thanks to the generous support of the Administration and Congress. However, in addition to honoring past achievements, the Institution conducted pioneering research. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory led the Event Horizon Telescope project, an array of ground-based radio telescopes made possible through international collaboration, producing the first-ever image of a black hole, an achievement that won the prestigious 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

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