Smithsonian Goes Low for Highbrow Exhibits and Art

• By Andrea Cohen
• Roll Call Staff
• Nov. 13, 2008, 3:28 p.m.

In its 150 years, the Smithsonian has accrued 150 million pieces in its collection of objects, artifacts, specimens and creatures. So, where do you house all of this history? Even though the Smithsonian is sometimes referred to as “America’s Attic,” the truth is that many of the most interesting (and least visited) Smithsonian collections are in the basement.