. >> reporter: he's among more than 30 distant relatives of james smithson. they started at the castle, robert's lineage is linked to that scientist. smithsch had no dren, but when a nephew died childless, too, the fortune was left to the burgeoning united states, a new frontier for knowledge, not beholden to the english titles and customs he'd grown-up with. >> it had none of that clutter, none of that ruck sack of ancient behavior and rituals. >> itee is the s of so many wonderful things. and for the united states and for the world. so i just astounded. >> reporter: a few in the family had an inkling about a connection. it wasn't until they read a certain book that it all started together. author heather ewing didn't expect the kind of resonanceer ok would generate until hungerford started contacting her. >> they were raiding teading th enjoying it and thinking about coming to seehe smithsonian. >> it rslly so special to us >> reporter: also incredible, the fact that a few twists of fatend genealogy and the wishes of a man who never visited america had conv

he's one of the distant relatives of e james smithson to tour the institution named for his famous relation. they started at the castle, the iconic center of the institution. smithson had no children, but when a nephew named as an heir died childless too, the fortune was left to the burgeoning united states, a new frontier for knowledge. >> it was a country that had none of that clartter, none of that rucksack of ancient rituals. >> it was the seed of so many wonderful things. for the united states and for the world. so'm just astounded. >> reporter: a few in the family had an inkling about a connection. others had no idea. it wasn't until they read a certain bookhat it all started to come together. author heather ewing didn't expecthe resonance her book would generate. >> about a yearago they said they were reading the book, enjoying it and thinking about coming to see the smithsonian. >> it really is so special for us. to share it with all of our m familybers is pretty incredible. >> reporter: also incredible, the fact f that a twists of fate and genealogy and the wishes of a man who neve

these people are descendants of james smithson's family. smithson died childless as did a never off who was the lone heir clause bequeathed smithson's fortune to the establishment of an american institution devoted to science. from there, the smithsonian was born as a gift to the nation. patrick hungerford is a descendant ofssmithson' mother. he arranged the trip. >> he'd been brought up with the namesrld where hereditary and titles and families were quite a burden on the way he wanted to live and also a burden on the diffusion o knowledge. so he liked the idea that here was a country that had none of thatcl ter. >> he was trying to bring us class and culture. >> basically. >> yeah. the family members come from placesuch as england and canada. they wife spend a days in d.c. touring the smithsonian museums. lucki there is no shortage of culture and class in d.c. >> that's a statement. >> i'm justyi sa. >> i don't know if i agree, but okay. >>> still ahead, 80 million milesraveled and 200 days logged in space. an astronaut brings the universe

the fist presence on the mall is just part of the experience and central to the character of james smithsony tree. he had no children. he named a nephew as an heir wihe that t stipulation that he change his name. the nephew died chiless and line with his will, it was sent to the united states for the establishment of the smithsonian. >> he was a scientist and he wanted knowledge as a free commodity. >> he saw america as a perfect place for it. >> he hadeen brought up in the old world where names and titles were a burden on the way he wanted to live and a burden on the diffuse of knowledge. > family members toured the smithsonian and included a visit to the crypt where his remains werentombed there. family members knew of the connection but didn't know much until this book that eventually led to this visit. a whole new apprecia for a noted ancestor. >> i saw a picture, a painting of smithson and i saw little bit of my son in him. i don't know if i was just imagining things. >> at the smithsonian, derrick ward, news 4. >> they didn't know until recently? >> they didn't know, apparently not. t

these people are descendant of james smithson family, the man for whom the smithsonian is named. clause in his will bee wreathed to science and from there the smithsonian was born as a gift to the nation. >> he was brought up with the old world where hereditary names and titles and families were a quite burden on the way he wan ad to live and also burden on the diffusion of knowledge. so he liked the idea here was a country that had none of that clutter. >> patrick hungerford is a aesce his mth a oithfson's family members will miend a few days in d.c. touring the sthsonian museum. hereummer break is already for somefde wothi a games,. >> we have a preview of some of the new tech hey babe, what's the password for the cable bill? rollerbladeking22. capital "k". . okat about the phone bill? it's the entire alphabet backwards. z y x w v... i got it. i got it... what about electric? uh uh.. lobster? it didn't work. try all seafood. the words "all seafood" or like different seafoods? no, just like work your way through the ocean. what? forget all your passwords. billmoay on the td bank

. >> these folks ares relati of james smithson, the man for whom the smithsonian is named.ildless as did a nephew who was the lone heir in lause in that will bequeathed the fortune to thent establishm of an american instition devoted to science. from there the smithsonian institution was born as a gift to the nation. >> he's been brought up with the old world where hereditary names and titles and families were quite a burden on theway he wanted to live and also a burden tothe diffusion of knowledge. >> family membersnd will spe two days here touri o allthe sites. >> i'm guessing they don't have to wait in line. >> i hope not. >>> it's the side o nancy pelosi you haven't seen before. up income at 6:00, the house speaker opens up about her b family and why she decided to make the move from kitchen to congress. >>> more of us areurning to technology to get fit, but some say the move could take a toll on our mental health. we'll explain why, but first, here's doug. >>> and it may not be raining right now, but if you're heading out this eveninth take aibrellas with you. we've go

these people are descendants of james smithson's family. he is the man for whom the smithsonian is med. a clause in smithson's will dedicated his fortune to theis establhment of an american institution devoted to science. and from there, the smithsonian was born as a gift to the nation. >> he'd been brought up in the old world where hereditary names and titles and families were quite a burden on the way he lwanted to live and a burden on the diffusion of knowledge. he liked the idea that here was a country that hadne of that clutter. >> there you go. >> we didn't have any class-- >> nice way to say it. monthsson's family -- smithson's family will spend a few days antouring the smithsonimuseum. there are many of them in the area. hopefully they'll get to spend time at the zoo, too. >> what a lasting legacy and a gift to the region -- and nation, too. >> it's free. you get all this culture and history and don't have to pay. amazing. >> it's great. i love the smithsonian. >> goodeather outside today. >> yes. going to be great today. great tomo