Development Though the Smithsonian's first secretary, Joseph Henry, wanted the institution to be a center for scientific research, it also became the depository for various Washington and U.S. government collections. The United States Exploring Expedition by the U.S. Navy circumnavigated the globe between 1838 and 1842. The voyage amassed thousands of animal specimens, an herbarium of 50,000 plant specimens, and diverse shells and minerals, tropical birds, jars of seawater, and ethnographic artifacts from the South Pacific Ocean. These specimens and artifacts became part of the Smithsonian collections, as did those collected by several military and civilian surveys of the American West, including the Mexican Boundary Survey and Pacific Railroad Surveys, which assembled many Native American artifacts and natural history specimens.
deveLoPmenT ThOugH ThE smItHsoNian'S fIrST seCrEtary, josepH hEnry, wanTed the institUTIOn to be a CEnteR for scientific research, It also becAme the deposiToRY FoR VarIous washIngTON aNd u.S. GOVerNMEnt cOllECtiOnS. The uniTed staTeS explorINg expedItion by thE u.S. Navy ciRcumNavIgAted ThE gLobE betweEn 1838 anD 1842. thE voyaGe amaSsEd thouSands of AniMal sPecImEnS, An hERbarIum of 50,000 PlaNt sPECimEnS, and diverSE ShElLs AnD mineRaLs, tropicAl bIRds, jars Of sEaWATer, and eThnoGrApHIc aRtifaCtS fRom tHe souTH pAcIfiC oCEan. TheSE sPeCImens And ArtiFActs became ParT Of the smIThSoNiAn coLlEctiOns, AS did those colleCteD BY sevErAL milITary aND CIVIlIAn SurVEys of the amErican weSt, inclUdiNg The mExiCan bouNDary SurvEy And Pacific RAILrOaD suRveYS, whIch ASseMBleD many NativE AmeRicaN artifactS And NaturaL hiStOrY speCimeNs.