English chemist James Smithson never visited the United States, yet he bequeathed his estate to establish the Smithsonian Institution. “Smithson’s Gamble” follows the fascinating growth and development of the world's largest museum and research complex during its first 60 years. Tom 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.

Learn more at Tom’s virtual author talk. Register at: https://libraryc.org/salinaspubliclibrary/107744