In 2022, the Smithsonian Institution will offer free admission to its museums on a special day. The event, called Smithsonian Museum Day, will be held on September 17, 2022.
Smithsonian Museum Day is an annual event that celebrates the power of museums to educate and inspire. On September 17, 2022, participating museums across the United States offer free admission to anyone presenting a Smithsonian Museum Day ticket.. This year, several museums in Michigan will take part in the event.
To get your free ticket, simply visit the Smithsonian Museum Day website and select the participating museum of your choice. Once you have your ticket, present it at the museum’s entrance on Museum Day to gain free entry for two people.
Museums are important places for learning about art, history, and culture. They are also fun places to explore with family and friends. On Smithsonian Museum Day, you can visit as many museums as you like for free! So mark your calendar and plan a day of discovery at a museum near you.
About the Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. We are a community of learning and an opener of doors.
The Smithsonian Institution, or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. Government “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge”. Founded on August 10, 1846, it operates as a trust instrumentality and is not formally a part of any of the three branches of the federal government. The institution is named after its founding donor, British scientist James Smithson. It was originally organized as the United States National Museum, but that name ceased to exist administratively in 1967.
Called “the nation’s attic” for its eclectic holdings of 154 million items, the Institution’s 19 museums, 21 libraries, nine research centers, and zoo include historical and architectural landmarks, mostly located in the District of Columbia. Additional facilities are located in Maryland, New York, and Virginia. More than 200 institutions and museums in 45 states, Puerto Rico, and Panama are Smithsonian Affiliates. Institution publications include Smithsonian and Air & Space magazines.
The Institution’s 30 million annual visitors are admitted without charge. Its annual budget is around $1.25 billion, with two-thirds coming from annual federal appropriations. Other funding comes from the Institution’s endowment, private and corporate contributions, membership dues, and earned retail, concession, and licensing revenue. As of 2021, the Institution’s endowment had a total value of about $5.4 billion.