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Smithsonian Institution Building

 
Smithsonian Institution Building

 
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Smithsonian Institution Building
 
 
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For similar uses and terms, see Smithsonian (disambiguation)
Smithsonian (disambiguation)

Smithsonian can refer to* the Smithsonian Institution, a museum in Washington, DC** the Smithsonian Institution Building** Smithsonian , a magazine published by the Institution...
.


The Smithsonian Institution Building, located on the National Mall
National Mall

The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the Capital of the United States. Officially termed by the National Park Service the National Mall & Memorial Parks, the term commonly includes the areas that are officially part of West Potomac Park and Constitution Gardens to the west, and often is taken to...
 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the Capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790....
 behind the National Museum of African Art
National Museum of African Art

The National Museum of African Art is a museum that is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.. Located on the National Mall, the museum specializes in African art and Culture of Africa....
, houses the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its Financial endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazine....
's administrative offices and information center. The building is constructed of red sandstone
Sandstone

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock Particle size . Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust ....
 in the faux Norman
Norman architecture

The term Norman architecture is used to categorise styles of Romanesque architecture developed by the Normans in the various lands under their dominion or influence in the 11th and 12th centuries....
 style (a 12th-century combination of late Romanesque
Romanesque architecture

Romanesque architecture is the term that is used to describe the architecture of Middle Ages Europe which evolved into the Gothic architecture style beginning in the 12th century....
 and early Gothic
Gothic architecture

Gothic architecture is a style of architecture which flourished during the high and late Middle Ages. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
 motifs) and is appropriately nicknamed The Castle.

as the first Smithsonian building, begun in 1847 by architect James Renwick, Jr.
James Renwick, Jr.

James Renwick, Jr. , was an American architect in the 19th-century. The Encyclopedia of American Architecture calls him "one of the most successful American architects of his time." He has many living relatives and including family in Greenwich, Connecticut....
, whose other works include St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York

St. Patrick's Cathedral is aEnglish Gothic architecture#Decorated Gothic Gothic Revival architecture-style Roman Catholic Church cathedral church in North America....
 in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 and the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery
Renwick Gallery

The Renwick Gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, located in Washington, D.C., and focuses on American craft and decorative arts from the 19th century to the 21st century....
, also in Washington D.C.






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Encyclopedia


For similar uses and terms, see Smithsonian (disambiguation)
Smithsonian (disambiguation)

Smithsonian can refer to* the Smithsonian Institution, a museum in Washington, DC** the Smithsonian Institution Building** Smithsonian , a magazine published by the Institution...
.


The Smithsonian Institution Building, located on the National Mall
National Mall

The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the Capital of the United States. Officially termed by the National Park Service the National Mall & Memorial Parks, the term commonly includes the areas that are officially part of West Potomac Park and Constitution Gardens to the west, and often is taken to...
 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the Capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790....
 behind the National Museum of African Art
National Museum of African Art

The National Museum of African Art is a museum that is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.. Located on the National Mall, the museum specializes in African art and Culture of Africa....
, houses the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its Financial endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazine....
's administrative offices and information center. The building is constructed of red sandstone
Sandstone

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock Particle size . Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust ....
 in the faux Norman
Norman architecture

The term Norman architecture is used to categorise styles of Romanesque architecture developed by the Normans in the various lands under their dominion or influence in the 11th and 12th centuries....
 style (a 12th-century combination of late Romanesque
Romanesque architecture

Romanesque architecture is the term that is used to describe the architecture of Middle Ages Europe which evolved into the Gothic architecture style beginning in the 12th century....
 and early Gothic
Gothic architecture

Gothic architecture is a style of architecture which flourished during the high and late Middle Ages. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
 motifs) and is appropriately nicknamed The Castle.

History

It was the first Smithsonian building, begun in 1847 by architect James Renwick, Jr.
James Renwick, Jr.

James Renwick, Jr. , was an American architect in the 19th-century. The Encyclopedia of American Architecture calls him "one of the most successful American architects of his time." He has many living relatives and including family in Greenwich, Connecticut....
, whose other works include St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York

St. Patrick's Cathedral is aEnglish Gothic architecture#Decorated Gothic Gothic Revival architecture-style Roman Catholic Church cathedral church in North America....
 in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 and the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery
Renwick Gallery

The Renwick Gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, located in Washington, D.C., and focuses on American craft and decorative arts from the 19th century to the 21st century....
, also in Washington D.C. In August 1853, the Smithsonian's Board of Regents declared that the work of the original architect, James Renwick, Jr., was done. Lieutenant Barton S. Alexander
Barton S. Alexander

Barton Stone Alexander was an American engineer commander during the American Civil War who rose to the Brevet rank of Brigadier General#United States in the Regular Army ....
 of the U.S. Army Topographic Engineers was asked to take up the architect's responsibilities for the slowly progressing Smithsonian Building. Under his supervision, the building was finished in 1855. Over the years, several reconstructions have taken place. The first followed a disastrous fire on January 24 1865, which destroyed most of the upper story of the main segment and the north and south towers. In 1884, the east wing was fireproofed and enlarged to accommodate more offices. Remodeling from 1968 to 1969 restored the building to the Victorian atmosphere
Victorian architecture

The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly employed during the Victorian era. As with the latter, the period of building that it covers may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 ? 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom after whom it is named....
 reminiscent of the era during which it was first inhabited.

This building served as a home for the first Secretary of the Smithsonian, Joseph Henry
Joseph Henry

Joseph Henry was an American scientist who served as the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. During his lifetime, he was considered one of the greatest American scientists since Benjamin Franklin....
, and his family and for many years housed all aspects of Smithsonian operations, including an exhibit hall from 1858 until the 1960s. In 1901, Washington's first children's room was installed in the Castle's South Tower Room where the original decorated ceiling and wall stencils were restored in 1987. Located inside near the north entrance is the crypt of James Smithson
James Smithson

James Smithson, Fellow of the Royal Society, Master of Arts was a United Kingdom mineralogist and chemist noted for having left a bequest in his will to the United States, which was used to initially fund the Smithsonian Institution....
, benefactor of the Institution, while outside on the Mall
National Mall

The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the Capital of the United States. Officially termed by the National Park Service the National Mall & Memorial Parks, the term commonly includes the areas that are officially part of West Potomac Park and Constitution Gardens to the west, and often is taken to...
, a bronze statue of Joseph Henry, executed by William Wetmore Story
William Wetmore Story

William Wetmore Story was an United States sculptor, art critic, poet and editor....
, honors the scientist who was the Institution's first secretary. In 1996, as the Smithsonian celebrated its 150th anniversary, a bell
Bell (instrument)

A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually an open-ended hollow drum which resonates upon being struck....
 was added. Although Renwick had intended for a bell in his original plan, there was not enough money to add it to the Castle. It now chimes hourly.

Current use

The Smithsonian Castle acts as the 'brain' of the Smithsonian, in that it houses all the administrative offices and carries out all Smithsonian operations. In addition, the main Smithsonian visitor center is also located here, with interactive displays and maps. Computers electronically answer most common questions.

Gallery


External links