Smithsonian, With a Gentle Prod, Corrects One Error, Makes Two More

"Michigan fifth-grader finds 27-year-old Smithsonian mistake"
WSBT22 (April 2, 2008)

"Is fifth-grader Kenton Stufflebeam smarter than the Smithsonian? ... Since it opened in 1981, millions of people have paraded past the museum's Tower of Time, a display involving prehistoric time. Not one visitor had reported anything amiss with the exhibit until Kenton noticed that a notation, in bold lettering, identified the Precambrian as an era." It's not, and Kenton Stufflebeam knew it.

So did the Smithsonian staff.

But, now that a fifth-grader and his father courteously pointed out the gaffe, they fixed it. And, wrote the lad a letter.

Young Mr. Stufflebeam, who lives in Allegan, Michigan, was excited to receive the letter. He noted, however, that the Smithsonian appeared to be upholding a tradition of inexcellence.

Kenton Stufflebeam's letter is addressed to:

Kenton Slufflebeam. In Allegany.