Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Architectural; Medium: Photographic print
Type:
Exterior
Photographic print
Architecture
Place:
United States of America, District of Columbia, Washington, Southwest, Arts and Industries Building
Date:
c. 1883
Category:
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Notes:
The original negative number is MAH-2887. Negative number MAH-2888 shows similar driveway state, and light posts flanking north entrance, but more windows have awnings and there is a garden cart leaning against the facade.
Summary:
The exterior to the north side of the newly completed United States National Museum Building, now the Arts and Industries Building (A&I) designed by architects Cluss and Schulze. Ground breaking ceremony was held on April 17, 1879. Second Secretary of the Smithsonian Spencer F. Baird assembled a distinguished Building Committee that included General Meigs and General William Tecumseh Sherman. Baird and his building committee worried over every detail of construction. The building was completed by 1881, on schedule and within budget. Per square foot, it was the cheapest permanent government building ever built. It had 80,000 square feet of exhibit space. Note grillwork of the original gates of the north entrance.
Contained within:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 32, Folder: 8
