Audience for Smithsonian's 150th Birthday Concert The <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/52">Smithsonian Institution</a> celebrated its 150th birthday in 1996 with special exhibits and multi-day celebration on the Mall. There were multiple stages set up, with daytime performances from a wide variety of performers. On August 10 there was a special evening concert emceed by Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead and featuring Aretha Franklin, Trisha Yearwood, and Buffy Sainte-Marie with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. After the concert there was a fireworks display. Smithsonian Institution Archives. <a href="http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&amp;profile=all&amp;source=~!sichronology&amp;uri=full=3100001~!10445~!0#focus">View original</a>. 8/10/1996 <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1980-1999">1980-1999</a>