An Englishman, James Smithson, made it possible to create the institute with his generous monetary gift of $500,000; hence, the name, Smithsonian. 

The Smithsonian Institution supports a wide variety of research projects and publications. It also houses the national museums of natural history, technology, art and history. One of the most popular is the National Air Museum which contains the Wright Brothers original biplane and Charles Lindbergh’s plane, The Spirit of St. Louis. 

Often referred to as America’s attic, the Smithsonian has a little something for everyone from every era and pertaining to all subject matter. You’ll even find Archie Bunker’s chair at the Smithsonian Institution. 
1846 Congress charters the "nation's attic," the Smithsonian Institution
Congress charters "nation's attic," Smithsonian Institution

Screen and stage actor Jack Haley was born on this day in 1898 in Boston, Massachusetts. Haley, a man seemingly made of rubber, was best known for his role of the Tin Man in the fantasy film classic 'The Wizard of Oz', although he was an accomplished vaudevillian performer long before that role. Haley virtually disappeared from Hollywood after the release of 'The Wizard of Oz'. 

 1938: Adolf Hitler unterrichtet die Generalität von seinen militärischen Plänen gegen die Tschechoslowakei. Die Denkschrift von Generalstabschef Ludwig Beck bleibt ohne Eindruck. Die Generäle wagen es nicht, dem Führer zu widersprechen.
 1938 119øF (48øC), Pendleton, Oregon (state record)

 1940: Les Humphries, engl. Chorleiter, "Les Humphries Singers", geboren

 1940: Bobby Hatfield, amerik. Popsänger, "The Righteous Brothers", geboren
 
1940, geboren Barbara Mills, QC, British Director of Public Prosecutions, geboren
1940, geboren Bobby Hatfield, Wisc, rocker (Righteous Bros-Unchained Melody), geboren
1940, geboren Richard Wells, Chief Constable (South Yorkshire), geboren

 1947 - George Buehler

1947, geboren Alan Ward, England cricket pace bowler (1969-76), geboren

1947, geboren Ian Anderson, Scotland, rocker (Jethro Tull-Bungle in the Jungle), geboren

1954 - Sir Gordon Richards announced his retirement as a racing jockey to become a trainer. Sir Gordon rode 4,870 winners into the winner’s circle in his 34-year racing career. 

1954 - Elvis Presley made one of his first professional appearances, at Overton Park, in his hometown of Memphis, TN. He used the occasion to debut his new record, That’s All Right (Mama), and was a big crowd pleaser. 
1954 Sir Gordon Richards retires as a jockey with record 4,870 wins
1954 Neth Indonesian Union breaks up
1954 Sir Gordon Richards retires as a jockey with record 4,870 wins

1963, on UK TV the 100th edition of 'Thank Your Lucky Stars', with Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Searchers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas and Alma Cogan.

1968, Cream started a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Wheels Of Fire'.
1968 Race riot in Miami, Chicago & Little Rock
1968 Shirley Englehorn wins LPGA Concord Golf Open

1968, Tom Jones went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Delilah'.

1972, Paul and Linda McCartney were arrested and fined £800 for possession of cannabis in a drugs bust after a concert in Gothenburg, Sweden.
1972 1 million kg heavy meteorite grazes atmosphere above Canada
1972 Paul & Linda McCartney are arrested in Sweden on drug possession

1974, Roberta Flack went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Feel Like Makin' Love', the singers third US No.1. 

1976 - Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, deutscher Maler und Grafiker, einer der führenden Künstler des Expressionismus, Mitbegründer der Künstlervereinigung «Die Brücke», geb. 1884, gestorben
1976 - Paul Lücke, deutscher CDU-Politiker, ehemaliger Bundesinnenminister, geb. 1914, gestorben
1976 Ray "Crash" Corrigan cowboy (Crash Corrigan's Ranch), dies at 74 , gestorben
1976, gestorben Bert Oldfield, cricketer (54 Tests, 52 stumpings), dies, gestorben
1976, gestorben Ray "Crash" Corrigan, cowboy (Crash Corrigan's Ranch), dies at 74, gestorben

 1983: Die Hamburger Polizei verhaftet fast alle Mitglieder der Rockergruppe "Hells Angels".

1983, Kajagoogoo sacked their lead singer Limahl, who took up a solo career. 

1985, Bryan Adams scored his first US No.1 album with 'Reckless'.
 

1985, 'Money for Nothing', by Dire Straits peaked at No. 4 on the UK singles chart.
 

1985, Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran, was air lifted to safety when his boat 'Drum', overturned while racing of the English coast. 
1985 Michael Jackson buys ATV Music (every Beatle songs) for $47« million
1985 Uno Lindstron of Sweden, juggles a soccer ball 13.11 miles
1985 A's Dave Kingman is 21st to hit 400 HRs (off Matt Young at Seattle)

1987 - A Chorus Line celebrated its 5,000th performance. It was estimated that 25 million theatre goers had seen the musical since it opened in 1975. An estimated 16.7 million people had seen the show on Broadway, with another 8.3 million taking in the touring production. A Chorus Line became the longest-running show on The Great White Way on September 29, 1983 and ended its Broadway run in 1990. 
1987 - In Hanau beginnt ein Prozess gegen die Plutoniumfabrik Alkem und Beamte des hessischen Wirtschaftsministeriums wegen unerlaubten Betriebs einer kerntechnischen Anlage
1987 - The Dow Jones industrial average closed above the 2600 mark, after a gain of 43.84 points. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones industrials were at 2635.84. That’s it from the Financial Desk... 
1987 Flight Readiness Firing of Discovery's main engines is successful
 1987: 340.000 südafrikanische Bergleute beginnen den größten Streik in der Geschichte des Landes.
1987, Wilson Pickett was found guilty by a New Jersey court of possessing a shot gun with intent to endanger life following his involvement in a fist fight in a bar.
1987 Flight Readiness Firing of Discovery's main engines is successfully
1987 Kevin Gross is 2nd pitcher in 8 days to be ejected for scuffing ball

1991, Luciano Pavarotti scored his third UK No.1 album with 'The Essential Pavarotti II'.
 

1991, The 5th Dimension received a star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
1991 "Little Night Music" closes at New York State NYC after 7 perfs
1991 NFL sportscaster Paul Maquire suffers a heart attack at 53

 1995: Amerikanische Forscher verabreichen Mäusen eine Proteinspritze, damit sie überschüssige Pfunde verlieren.
 1995 Dodgers leading 2-1 in 9th forfeit game to Cards, fans become unruly

1997, Puff Daddy & the Family went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'No Way Out.'
1997 36th Walker Cup: US, 18-6
1997 Anaheim Angels Tony Phillips arrested for purchasing cocaine
1997 Atlanta Braves sign Greg Maddux to record 5 year, $575 Million deal
1997 Deb Richard wins LPGA Friendly's Classic
1997 Northville Long Island Senior Golf Classic
1997 Vijay Singh of Fiji wins Buick Open at the Warwick Hills Golf

2001, Toploader guitarist Dan Hippgrave married TV presenter Gail Porter at an Edinburgh register office. 

10 2002 Türkei: Rücktritt von Wirtschaftsminister Kemal Dervis wegen vorgestellten Krisenprogrammen

2002, ex Steps singer Faye Tozer married Jasper Irn at The Priory Church in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England.
 

2002, former Hear’say singer Kym Marsh married Eastenders actor Jack Ryder in Hertfordshire, Engalnd.