The United States National Museum was founded in 1846 as part of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum was initially housed in the Smithsonian Institution Building, which is better known today as the Smithsonian Castle. A formal exhibit hall opened in 1858.
On February 19, 1943, Hans and Sophie took a great risk by placing copies of a sixth leaflet produced by the White Rose Group in the deserted halls of the University of Munich. After a janitor spotted them, they were arrested by the Gestapo. Sophie, her brother Hans and Christoph Probst were soon tried and executed.
White was buried in St. James, New York. White was noted for his womanizing; he had a red velvet swing installed in an apartment where Nesbit and other girls in varying degrees of undress would entertain him, which became a focal point of press coverage of the trial.