British 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 Smithson's Gamble. Following the fascinating growth and development of the world's largest museum and research complex during its first 60 years, this book reveals how, as it defined a role rooted in curiosity and exploration, the Smithsonian also influenced the nation's developing identity.

Interweaving stories present the amazing history and history makers of the institution, from Joseph Henry's pioneering weather forecasting system to Spencer Baird's network of naturalists who gathered specimens from across the country to display for the American public. Smithson's Gamble follows the Smithsonian through the Civil War, a disastrous castle fire, and pivotal roles in world's fairs, along with mysterious deaths, an embezzling scandal, political maneuvering, backstabbing, and so much more.

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.