Brian Elling is the author of several books for children. He lives in Los Angeles, California. The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum and research complex. Founded in 1846, it includes 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities. Its vast collections house 138 million artifacts, specimens, and works of art, which represent our nation's rich heritage, art from across the globe, and the immense diversity of the natural and cultural world.