Happy 166th Birthday to Us!
The Smithsonian Institution celebrates 166 years since it was signed into existence by President James K. Polk
![three-cent stamp](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/p1NnxtUcoaqvh53_B5Tnyiz18zY=/1000x750/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/4a/4a/4a4a5c64-c669-458b-8e0b-d4bd7a641c2b/stamp.png)
It was just 166 short years ago that President James K. Polk signed into law a bill establishing the Smithsonian Institution. Founded at the bequest of the British mineralogist and chemist James Smithson, the Smithsonian was created for the “increase and diffusion of knowledge” and we’ve been at it ever since. Over the years, the Institution has grown to 19 museums and the National Zoo. Here’s a look at how it got there:
![View of the north facade of the Castle, circa 1860.](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/2g_0_FzpSsXaO2egYgxTw8hH2eM=/fit-in/1072x0/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/20120810122013Castle_Thumbnail.png)
![American bison](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/hwOYokSy4FsfzIU4BGucd7wWS5Y=/fit-in/1072x0/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/a3/85/a385686f-fc6a-495a-8e9c-600d8e61b060/bison.png)
![Charles Hoover found artistic inspiration](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/oAk5t_7D85JMbC1MpnebDcYY8Dg=/fit-in/1072x0/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/3c/07/3c07fbb0-5dee-4acb-baec-9f9fdd60487e/hoover.png)
![A crowd gathers to watch the installation of Secretary Adams in 1984](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/EMLmbo-QclR9dEgb8XG4H5ztyH8=/fit-in/1072x0/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/9a/b2/9ab26dc0-e275-4eb3-ab5a-e1a0d2346def/secretary-installation.png)
![And a view of the Castle as it looks now](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/dxHPEFUEGlm9r1RcsGAdjakqcOs=/fit-in/1072x0/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/7e/c8/7ec8a1da-7db3-4fb3-b058-f832df442147/screen-shot-2012-08-10-at-11444-pm.png)