Smithson's Gamble: The Smithsonian Institution in American Life, 1836-1906

Discover the incredible history of the Smithsonian as it grew to meet the needs of a nation

Follow the fascinating growth and development of the world's largest museum and research complex during its first 60 years. The English chemist and mineralogist James Smithson never visited the United States, yet he bequeathed his estate to the country to establish the Smithsonian Institution. The rest is history, told in rich detail in Smithson's Gamble. This book reveals how, as it defined a role rooted in curiosity and exploration, the Smithsonian helped to shape the nation's developing identity.

The Smithsonian evolved from a small, narrowly focused organization into an institution leading the way in fields from astrophysics to zoology. Smithsonian researchers, and the hundreds of citizen scientists who they recruited, created a collection that documented the natural and human history of a continent. The American conservation movement and a national weather service are rooted at the Smithsonian. Smithson's Gamble is filled with fascinating characters, twists and turns, and moments of triumph and tragedy, complete with political machinations, a bit of backstabbing, accusations of murder, and the occasional scandal.

Tom D. Crouch, a Smithsonian veteran of almost 45 years, paints a robust picture of a unique American establishment and its lasting legacies. He chronicles the trials and errors of an increasingly complex institution and all the incredible joys and innovations resulting from Smithson's gamble.

Author: Tom D. Crouch
Publisher: Smithsonian Books
Published: 04/29/2025
Pages: 416
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.55lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.60w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781588347916


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 04/01/2025 pg. 22

About the Author
TOM D. CROUCH is a curator emeritus of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. He has authored many books, including the award-winning The Bishop's Boys: A Life of Wilbur and Orville Wright and Wings: A History of Aviation from Kites to the Space Age.