The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History announced on Wednesday that Candy maker Mars Inc. is donating $5 million to the museum to create a new gallery focused on business and innovation in the United States, dating back to the 1700s. The McLean, Virginia-based maker of Snickers, M&Ms, and pet foods will be the lead sponsor of a planned “American Enterprise” exhibit. The multimedia gallery, which will be 8,000-square feet, will trace the nation’s economic development from a small agricultural nation to one of the world’s largest economies.
During the announcement of the donation, Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough said it will tell a broad story about business for visitors of all ages. The gallery will be named the Mars Hall of American Business. The gallery is scheduled to open in 2015, after a renovation of the museum’s west wing.
