Feb
19

Today in Smithsonian History: February 19, 1979

Six different kinds of snowflakes against black background

For more than 40 years, Wilson Alwyn “Snowflake” Bentley (1865–1931) photographed thousands of individual snowflakes and perfected the innovative photomicrographic techniques. His photographs and publications provide valuable scientific records of snow crystals and their many types. Five hundred of his snowflake photos now reside in the Smithsonian Institution Archives, donated by Bentley in 1903 to protect against “all possibility of loss and destruction, through fire or accident.”

February 19, 1979 On February 19-20, 1979, the Smithsonian Institution museums are forced to close for two days because of weather conditions. This is the first time in at least 50 years that the museums are closed for two consecutive days because of weather conditions. The National Zoo is closed February 21, as well.

Via Smithsonian Institution Archives

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Posted: 19 February 2019
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