December 18 



Pledge: The Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center received frcm 

 the Pew Memorial Trust a pledge of $1 million toward the construction of the new 



Smithsonian Information Center. 



December 19 



rrm= > t Watch: The first of several "Halley observing 11 sessions was held for the 

 public at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Mass. More 

 than 750 people attended the sessions, scheduled periodically through May 2, 

 att empt ing a glimpse of the famous comet. 



December 20 



Exhibition: The ninth annual "Trees of Christmas" exhibition, developed by the 

 Office of Horticulture in conjunction with the National Museum of American 

 History, opened with 13 trees decorated to display the ethnic, artistic and 

 cultural use of the Christmas tree. 



December 26-31 



Holiday Event: The National Museum of American History offered its annual 

 Holiday Celebration, which this year focused on the theme "Our Ethnic Heritage" 

 and drew en the talents of more than 600 musicians, storytellers and 

 demonstrators of ethnic crafts and cocking. 



Dpcpmher 28 



Milestone: Two hundred eighty-three pieces of antique cutlery from the Robert L. 

 Metzenberg collection dating from the 16th through 19th centuries were added to 

 the collections of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. 



January 



Public Programs: Throughout 1986, special "Halley observing" sessions were 

 scheduled for the public at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in 

 Cambridge, Mass. , and attracted more than 750 people attempting a glimpse of the 

 famous comet. 



January 



Research: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory scientists presented a new map 

 of the universe showing that the galaxies are distributed on the surfaces of 

 large, bubblelike voids up to 150 million light years in diameter. 



January 



Restoration: The historic restoration of the Renwick Gallery facade and window 

 replacement was completed in early January for a total cost of $5,600,000. 



It 



