Smithsonian Day
August 10
The original Smithsonian Institution’s building was The Castle, located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It is a red brick building that looks like a castle, built after a design competition in 1946. It is still the headquarters of the Smithsonian Institute. The Smithsonian collections include 138 million objects, works of art, and specimens, the majority of which (127 million) are located at the National Museum of Natural History. Approximately 6300 people work for the Smithsonian in some capacity, and a large percentage are government employees. There were nearly 29 million visits to the museums and the National Zoo in 2018. Admission to all Smithsonian museums in Washington is free. The museums are open seven days a week.
Assistance Dog Day
August 10
The term “assistance dog” is used to refer to what most people call “service dogs.” There are many different types of assistance dogs, which are all trained for different purposes. This includes service dogs, who help individuals with a physical disability, chronic illness, of neurological disorders; emotional support dogs which provide affection and companionship for mental or emotional conditions; guide dogs, who help the blind and visually impaired; and, hearing dogs, who help those with hearing loss. In the United States, approximately 500,000 service dogs are helping people.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Herbert Hoover – 31st President of U.S. – born in West Branch, Iowa
Kylie Jenner – Media Personality – born in Los Angeles, California
