This is Civix 101. I'm Nick Capadiche and today we're talking about the Smithsonian.

Again. We did a Today we're talking about the Smithsonian again.

We did a whole episode on its creation, its influence, its mission.

You can click the link in the show notes to check that out.

But for today, let's just say the Smithsonian is a lot more than a couple of museums in

Washington, D.C. In fact, the Smithsonian, which was founded by a federal statute, has a national footprint with affiliates

in every state and Puerto Rico.

But that said, much of the Smithsonian is largely out of view.

First and foremost, it's a research institution.

It's the biggest research education and museum institution on the planet.

So today on the podcast, we're bringing you a story that begins with one of the Smithsonian's most controversial collections

and then dives into a world where research, history and ethics collide at another institution that has received no shortage

of scrutiny and criticism, the Penn Museum and Philadelphia, PA.

This episode is the first in a three-part series from our colleagues at Outside Inn called

What Remains.

And the next episode of What Remains is actually out right now.

So after you listen to this show, you should just check it out in the outside in feed or wherever you get your podcasts.

And then, of course, follow that show if you don't already. It's delightful and there are dear friends.

So without further ado, I'm going to hand this off to outside in I'm Felix. You pitched us this idea. I don't even know how long ago it was at this point.

It was still cold outside so maybe wintertime.

Yeah, we are finally bringing this story to our listeners. And it is a big two-part episode that starts next

week but this week Felix and I are giving you the prologue and this prologue

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