Kenneth E. Behring, a West Coast multimillionaire who made his fortune in real-estate development and automobile businesses, has donated $80-million to the Smithsonian Institution to renovate its National Museum of American History.
Although the gift is unrestricted, Mr. Behring said he hoped the money would be used to help the museum chronicle individuals' pursuit of the American dream.
The gift is the largest ever made by an individual to the institution, museum officials said. Three years ago, Mr. Behring gave $20-million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History to renovate the museum's rotunda and Hall of Mammals.
Mr. Behring, 72, grew up in the Midwest and dropped out of college to open a used-car dealership. In the 1960's, he ventured into real-estate development, creating planned communities in Florida and California, including Blackhawk, an exclusive development near San Francisco. He is also a former owner of the Seattle Seahawks football team and is responsible for creating the Seattle Seahawks Charitable Foundation, which gives grants to children's charities.
Mr. Behring is the founder of the Blackhawk Museum, which holds his own collection of classic and antique automobiles, and the Behring-Hoffman Educational Institute, which, among other things, raises money to bring children from needy school districts to the museum for class trips.
Most recently, Mr. Behring pledged $15-million to start the Wheelchairs for the World Foundation, a charity that distributes wheelchairs to disabled individuals in poor countries.
Get more great stories about the nonprofit world delivered to your inbox every weekday. 
