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James Smithson left a substantial estate to his nephew, but when the nephew died without heirs Smithson's will stipulated that the funds be sent "to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase & diffusion of knowledge among men." On August 29, 1838, eleven boxes of gold sovereigns arrived in New York, eventually funding the creation of today's collection of museums, which now receive about 60% of their budget from national taxes. It wasn't until I started traveling that I realized it was normal for museums to charge for admission. There are many private galleries in D.C. as well, but it can be hard to compete for visitors.