Webster Prentiss True

Although the Smithsonian Institution has grown to be over a hundred years old, no full length account of its various collections and fascinating activities had ever been written before Mr. True put them down here in 1950. Founded through a generous bequest by a lonely Englishman who had never visited this country, The Smithsonian, often identified with its headquarters in the quaint Norman castle on the Mall in Washington D. C., also includes the United States National Museum—now called the National Museum of Natural History—with its collection of natural history and American historical treasures, the National Gallery of Art, with its outstanding collection of paintings, prints and sculpture, the Freer Gallery of Art, the National Air Museum—now called the National Air and Space Museum. Mr. True sets forth a biography that covers the treasures of the Smithsonian in the Fifties, while also illuminating the organization of the Smithsonian museums in the Fifties; some things have remained remarkably unchanged over the intervening years, while others are drastically different. Mr. True holds up the Smithsonian Institute as the national treasure it is, one whose value is incalculable.

The Smithsonian: America's Treasure House is a comprehensive book written by Webster Prentiss True that explores the history and collections of the Smithsonian Institution. The book is divided into four sections, each focusing on a different aspect of the Smithsonian's vast holdings. The first section provides an overview of the institution's founding and early history, while the second section delves into the Smithsonian's natural history collections, including its extensive holdings of fossils, minerals, and plants. The third section focuses on the Smithsonian's art collections, which include works by some of the most celebrated American artists of the past two centuries. Finally, the fourth section examines the Smithsonian's role as a research institution and its ongoing efforts to promote scientific discovery and education. Throughout the book, True provides detailed descriptions of many of the Smithsonian's most important and fascinating objects, from the Hope Diamond to the Wright Brothers' airplane to the original Star-Spangled Banner. The Smithsonian: America's Treasure House is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, science, or culture. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.