The Smithsonian Institution has digitized millions of its archival, library, and museum collections over the past decade, but this work is only the first step in providing and improving collection accessibility and use. To further increase the discoverability and engagement of their digitized materials, the Smithsonian developed the Smithsonian Transcription Center—a pan-institutional crowdsourcing project that enlists the public (anywhere in the world) in transcribing and reviewing digitized field notes, diaries, letters, specimen catalog cards, and more. This paper and presentation will discuss the development, growth, and achievements of the Transcription Center, along with the ways in which the lessons learned by Smithsonian staff can inform others interested in creating their own crowdsourcing platforms.