Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Photo has been modified.
For nearly 50 years, Dr. Soumyo Moitra has visited the Smithsonian, exploring the galleries and gardens and taking in the art, history, culture, science, and technology that is freely accessible to all.
“I traveled to Washington, DC, for the first time in the summer of 1974,” said Moitra, who came to the United States as a graduate student. “The Smithsonian is one of the things that I enjoyed most about the city, and I have been returning ever since.”
“The Smithsonian is free and open almost every day of the year, and I value that tremendously,” said Moitra, who first frequented the museums when he had limited resources as a student and then junior faculty member. He appreciates that curious minds of all means can continually access and learn from the collections and exhibitions. “The Smithsonian’s variety, quality, and quantity of exhibits make it attractive to visit, and there is always something new to see.”
While his field is physics and mathematics, Moitra is primarily drawn to the Smithsonian’s art museums. “The National Museum of Asian Art is one of my favorites,” he shared. “I realize that the museums cannot exhibit all of their collections, but I always wish they could put more on display. I enjoy looking at the physical artifacts.” He is particularly fond of the Japanese Buddhist collections.
Moitra also seeks out the Renwick Gallery, the American Art Museum, and the Hirschhorn Museum, where he recommends the free docent tours of the permanent collections. “It is a really interesting way to learn about the Hirshhorn’s artworks and sculptures—more so than if I just passed by them myself.” The Smithsonian Gardens are another highlight, especially the small “pocket gardens,” as he calls them, which extend and enrich the visitor experience beyond the galleries.
Lately, he has been impressed by the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “I try to get passes as fast and as often as I can whenever I am in town—and hopefully that will get easier,” said Moitra. “The special and ongoing exhibitions are terrific.”
“I have enjoyed the Smithsonian a lot over the years, and that is why I feel like I should support the Smithsonian in this way,” affirmed Moitra, who recently made a beneficiary designation through his investment accounts. “I am happy to be able to do something in return—to do my bit to keep the Smithsonian free for future visitors.”
Rich memories of wandering through his favorite Smithsonian museums and gardens inspired Dr. Soumyo Moitra to consider how he could help sustain and expand the collections he had come to love, as well as the exchange of ideas they fuel. You likely have your own rich Smithsonian memories that you could easily recount as well. Contact the Office of Gift Planning at 888-419-7584 or legacy@si.edu to discuss crafting your legacy to ensure that we continue to touch every visitor, today and tomorrow.