Things New and Strange was interesting and informative. I learned a couple things about the Smithsonian that I didn't know.

I learned so much about the author, South Georgia, and the Smithsonian Museum while reading this book. I loved how the author included Native Americans, Colonists, Slaves, art, music, fossils, animals, fish, land, meteors, etc in his retelling of the story of South Georgia.
I liked that we also got to see glimpses of his story and his familys story.
One thing I learned is that you can search the Smithsonian records for your own town's/areas history.
Overall a great book.

Clough was the first Southern Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and after he retired, he decided to explore the many collections for items related to his childhood of the 1940s and 50s. What started as a simple lark became a labor of love as the author became immersed in the objects that he found and that he interweaves here for us with stories of his childhood. This is a story about love of place and family and the importance of preserving it for future generations