the Smithsonian Institution
/ðə smɪθˈsəʊniən ɪnstɪtjuːʃn/
/ðə smɪθˈsəʊniən ɪnstɪtuːʃn/
(also the Smithsonian)
- a US national institution that consists of several museums and centres for scientific research in Washington, DC. It was established in 1846 by the US Congress with money given by James Smithson (1765-1829), an English scientist. Its popular name is 'the nation's attic'. The 12 major museums, most of which are located along the Mall, include the National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of American Art, the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of American History. The Kennedy Center is an independent part of the Smithsonian.
史密森学会（Smithsonian Institution）：美国的国家机构，由位于华盛顿特区的数个博物馆和科学研究中心组成。它由美国国会于1846年由英国科学家詹姆斯·史密森（James Smithson，1765-1829）出资建立。它的俗名是“国家的阁楼”。12个主要博物馆，其中大部分位于购物中心附近，包括国家航空航天博物馆，国家艺术馆，国家美国艺术博物馆，国家肖像画廊和国家美国历史博物馆。肯尼迪中心是史密森尼学会的独立部分。