The Smithsonian is unique. If interested in the history of how it came to be, Mike Rowe tells the story well in "The Illegitimate Son-of-a-Smith" podcast: http

The Smithsonian is unique. If interested in the history of how it came to be, Mike Rowe tells the story well in "The Illegitimate Son-of-a-Smith" podcast: http://thewayiheardit.rsvmedia.com/episode-135-the-illegitimate-son-of-a-smith http://thewayiheardit.rsvmedia.com/episode-135-the-illegitim... The Institution is 62% federally funded (a combination of the congressional appropriation and federal grants and contracts). ... the Smithsonian has trust or non-federal funds, which include contributions from private sources (endowments; donations from individuals, corporations and foundations; and memberships) and revenues from the Smithsonian Enterprises https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/smithsonian-institution-fact-sheet https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/smithsonian-instituti... From https://www.si.edu/ogc/legalhistory https://www.si.edu/ogc/legalhistory created by Congress in 1846 to exercise the authority of the United States in carrying out the responsibilities Congress undertook when it accepted the bequest of James Smithson "to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."... ...the Smithsonian is not an agency or authority of the Government... ...the Smithsonian is so "closely connected" to the federal government that it shares the immunity of the United States from state and local regulation...