Everyone Has Their Secrets...

Looking far and wide across the vast stretches of the Internet, we dug up some Smithsonian Secrets just for you! Fun facts are everywhere if you know where to look.

Spoiler Alert: secrets. secrets everywhere.

1. James Smithson was 5'6

Don't know who James Smithson is? He is the Smithsonian's fearless founder! In 1973, a Smithsonian forensic anthropologist studied good ol' Smithson's bones. Turns out the dude was 5'6, which is one of the few things we know for sure about the mysterious underwriter of all that is good and free around here. He's a prime Smithsonian Celeb!

source: Smithsonian Education

2. And Speaking of Bones...

Any Bones fans out there? Spoiler alert: the Jeffersonian is based off the Smithsonian. Well, the Division of Physical Anthropology here at the Smithsonian. Because the Smithsonian is huge and cannot be confined to just one "place."

Hail to the bones!

source: Smithsonian Archives

3. Harry Winston mailed the Hope Diamond in for $2.44

Yeah. That fancy diamond that houses the hopes and dreams of gems all around the world? In 1958, it was shipped off for $2.44. Granted, it was insured for a cool million, but think of all the what-ifs.

At least it's better than sending it by owl.

source: Postal Museum Blog

4. Two Words: Space Spiders

NASA sent some astronomical arachnids through the stratosphere in 1973 to test their spinning skills. They survived all legs of the journey (ba dum tssss) and now rest at the Smithsonian.

Spiders: more than just scary house guests. Here's to you, Arabella and Anita.

Source: Smithsonian Education

Bonus spidernaut: National Museum of Natural History

5. Doughnut Ephemera

The American History Museum has everything from "Dunkin Doughnut Degrees" to Danny Donut posters to doughnut pins.

All of the doughnuts. Donuts. Do-nuts? Doughnuts for days! Need we say more?

source: National Museum of American History

6. Bring Out The Big Buns!

For the bun gauge, of course! Yes, that's right. Bun Gauge. Designed to take all the guess work out of that pesky bun-making, this McDonalds-driven device ensures all buns are created equally.

Pure. Magic.

source: National Museum of American History

7. We Have The 2%

Of stuff, that is. Only 2% of the Smithsonian's collection of over 138 million items is ever on display at any given time.

source: WaPo

8. The Smithsonian: Not the Nation's Attic

We have cool basement stuff, too! And warehouse stuff. And secrets. So many secrets.

Check us out at @SmithsonianTSA and search #SIsecrets for more fun unknowns!

Brought to you by the sassier folks behind the SMITHSONIAN at 8 page.