Degrees of Humboldt

Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) isn’t exactly a household name in the history of the United States, but he once was—very much so. The German scientist, naturalist, and world traveler was so famous and admired in 19th-century America that when the Nevada Territory was being constituted as a state in 1864, there was serious debate as to whether to call it Humboldt instead of Nevada. There are Humboldt Counties all over the U.S., Humboldt Mountains, and a Humboldt River, not to mention all the plant and animal species occurring throughout the New World that are named for him. There’s even a geographical feature on the moon called the Mare Humboldtianum, or Sea of Humboldt.

Sometime during the early 20th century, perhaps due to the passage of years, perhaps due to anti-German sentiment, Humboldt and his influence began to fade from memory. But now, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of his birth, a major project has been launched by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., to restore Humboldt to his rightful place in both the popular and scholarly minds, to document and explicate his central role in the creation of so many of the key elements of American culture. Spearheaded by Eleanor Jones Harvey, senior