{"product_id":"smithsons-gamble-the-smithsonian-institution-in-american-life-1836-1906-hardcover","title":"Smithson's Gamble: The Smithsonian Institution in American Life, 1836-1906 - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eTom D. Crouch\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDiscover the incredible history of the Smithsonian as it grew to meet the needs of a nation\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFollow 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 \u003ci\u003eSmithson's Gamble.\u003c\/i\u003e This book reveals how, as it defined a role rooted in curiosity and exploration, the Smithsonian helped to shape the nation's developing identity. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe 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. \u003ci\u003eSmithson's Gamble\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTom 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.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTOM D. CROUCH \u003c\/b\u003eis a curator emeritus of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. He has authored many books, including the award-winning \u003ci\u003eThe Bishop's Boys: A Life of Wilbur and Orville Wright\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWings: A History of Aviation from Kites to the Space Age\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 416\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.2 x 9.4 x 6.6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 29, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51978232725805,"sku":"9781588347916","price":36.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/g-_OmB2elD9781588347916.webp?v=1775801167","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/smithsons-gamble-the-smithsonian-institution-in-american-life-1836-1906-hardcover","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}