Issue 19 The Smithsonian Castle and the Birth of an American Institution

Issue 19 · The Digital Magazine and Archive of The Dr. Ali Zohery Podcast

The Smithsonian Castle and the Birth of an American Institution

From James Smithson’s Bequest to the World’s Largest Museum and Research Complex.

English edition followed by Arabic. Published 21 September 2026. Prepared and presented by Dr. Ali Zohery, Ph.D. Episode length 28 minutes 36 seconds. Zohery Tours — www.zohery.com — +1-202-437-1295.

Issue Overview

Issue 19 tells the story of the Smithsonian Institution Building, commonly called the Smithsonian Castle. The red sandstone landmark on the National Mall was the first permanent home of the Smithsonian Institution. It once contained exhibition halls, laboratories, offices, storage rooms, lecture spaces, and living quarters. The building therefore served as the starting point for an institution that later expanded into museums, research centers, libraries, archives, educational programs, and the National Zoo.

The story begins with James Smithson, a British scientist who never visited the United States. His will left his fortune to the United States to establish an institution in Washington for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among humanity. That brief instruction became one of the most consequential gifts in American cultural history.

Why the Castle Matters

The Castle links architecture with a public mission. Its towers make it visually distinctive, but its deeper importance lies in the work organized inside it: collecting objects, conducting research, explaining discoveries, and making knowledge available to the public. It remains the symbolic heart of the Smithsonian even as the institution has grown far beyond one building.

Page 2 · James Smithson and the Founding of the Smithsonian

A Bequest from an Unexpected Benefactor

James Smithson was born in France in 1765 and became a British chemist and mineralogist. He belonged to the Royal Society and devoted his life to scientific study. In his will, Smithson named his nephew as his principal heir. If the nephew died without heirs, the estate would pass to the United States to create an establishment in Washington bearing the Smithsonian name and devoted to the increase and diffusion of knowledge.

Smithson died in Genoa in 1829. His nephew later died without heirs, activating the unusual bequest. President Andrew Jackson informed Congress in 1835. After debate over whether the federal government should accept the gift and what type of institution it should support, Congress authorized acceptance. American diplomat Richard Rush traveled to England, obtained the estate through the Court of Chancery, and brought the proceeds to the United States in 1838. The gold sovereigns were converted to a little more than 500,000 dollars, an enormous educational endowment for the period.

The Act of 1846

Congress established the Smithsonian Institution on 10 August 1846. The law created a Board of Regents and authorized a building with rooms for natural history objects, scientific apparatus, a chemical laboratory, a library, an art gallery, and lectures. The wording reflected a broad understanding of knowledge that joined research, collections, public education, and communication.

Joseph Henry and the First Program

The physicist Joseph Henry became the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. He wanted the new institution to support original research and circulate useful results. The Smithsonian published scholarly work, exchanged publications with institutions around the world, supported scientific investigations, and developed national collections. Henry and his family also lived in the Castle, which made the building both an administrative center and a working intellectual community.

James Smithson’s Resting Place

Smithson was originally buried in Genoa. When changes to the cemetery threatened his grave, Alexander Graham Bell led an effort to bring his remains to Washington in 1904. Smithson now rests in a crypt near the north entrance of the Castle. His tomb gives visitors a direct connection to the donor whose confidence in knowledge created the institution.

Page 3 · Architecture, Collections, and Change

James Renwick Jr. and the Norman Revival Design

Architect James Renwick Jr., who later designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, prepared the Castle’s design. Construction began in 1847, and the building was completed in stages by 1855. Its asymmetrical towers, round arches, battlements, and picturesque silhouette draw on Romanesque and Norman Revival architecture. The exterior uses red Seneca sandstone quarried in Maryland along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

The building looks like a medieval castle, yet it was created for modern scientific and educational work. Different towers and wings originally supported offices, laboratories, collections, lectures, and residential needs. This combination explains why the Castle does not resemble a conventional government office or a single-purpose museum.

The Early Museum

Before the separate Smithsonian museums existed, the Castle displayed natural history specimens, ethnological materials, artworks, instruments, and objects connected with national exploration. Collections grew through government expeditions, private donations, scientific exchange, and research. As the holdings expanded, new buildings became necessary. The Arts and Industries Building opened next door in 1881, and later museums gave specialized collections their own homes.

The Fire of 1865

A serious fire struck the Castle in January 1865. It damaged the upper portion of the main building and destroyed collections and records, including much of James Smithson’s scientific papers and personal effects. The disaster led to reconstruction and changes in the building. The event remains an important lesson in the preservation of archives and the vulnerability of cultural institutions.

The Castle Today

For many years the Castle housed the Smithsonian Visitor Center as well as administrative offices. Visitors could obtain maps, learn how the museums developed, view an orientation display, and visit Smithson’s crypt. The building closed to the public in February 2023 for a major renovation intended to strengthen its structure, modernize building systems, improve accessibility, and preserve its historic fabric. Visitors should check the Smithsonian’s official website for the current reopening schedule and access information.

Page 4 · The Smithsonian Today, Lessons, and Questions

From One Building to a Public Knowledge Network

The Smithsonian now operates a large network of museums, research centers, libraries, archives, conservation programs, educational platforms, and the National Zoo. Many Smithsonian museums in Washington offer free general admission. Its collections cover American history, art, aviation, space exploration, natural history, world cultures, design, postal history, African American history, and the history of Indigenous peoples.

Lessons from the Episode

• A carefully directed gift can serve generations far beyond the life of the donor.
• Knowledge grows when research and public education support each other.
• Architecture can express an institution’s identity while adapting to new functions.
• Collections require preservation plans because fire, deterioration, and neglect can erase evidence.
• Free public access helps transform museums from storehouses into active educational institutions.

Questions and Answers

Who founded the Smithsonian Institution? The United States Congress established it in 1846 using the bequest of British scientist James Smithson.

Did James Smithson visit the United States? No. His gift was remarkable because he left his fortune to a country he had never visited.

What did Smithson want? He wanted an institution in Washington devoted to the increase and diffusion of knowledge.

Who designed the Castle? American architect James Renwick Jr. designed it in a Romanesque and Norman Revival style.

When was it built? Construction began in 1847, and the building was completed in stages by 1855.

Why is it called the Castle? Its towers, arches, battlements, red stone, and picturesque form resemble a European medieval castle.

What happened in 1865? A major fire damaged the building and destroyed valuable collections, records, and much of Smithson’s papers.

Where is James Smithson buried? His remains are in a crypt near the Castle’s north entrance.

Why is the Castle closed? It closed in 2023 for structural, mechanical, accessibility, and preservation work.

Plan Your Visit with Zohery Tours

The Smithsonian Castle stands at 1000 Jefferson Drive SW on the National Mall. Its exterior remains an important stop during renovation. Zohery Tours offers guided sightseeing in Washington, D.C. Visit www.zohery.com or call +1-202-437-1295 for schedules and reservations.

Filed Under: Digital Magazine