This document is the annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1868. It provides detailed information on the operations, expenditures, and condition of the institution, including its research programs, collections, and public outreach. It also includes reports from the various departments and curators, giving a comprehensive overview of the work being done by the Smithsonian at that time. For scholars and researchers, this report offers important insights into the history and development of one of the world's premier scientific institutions. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.