Arts and Industries Building
| Arts and Industries Building | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| National Register of Historic Places | |||
| National Historic Landmark | |||
 Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building |
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| location | Washington, DC | ||
| Coordinates | 38 ° 53 '17.5 " N , 77 ° 1' 28" W | ||
| Built | 1881 | ||
| architect | Adolf Cluss , Paul Schulze | ||
| NRHP number | 71000994 | ||
| Data | |||
| The NRHP added | November 11, 1971 | ||
| Declared as an NHL | November 11, 1971 | ||
The Arts and Industries Building is the Smithsonian's second oldest museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC Originally named National Museum, it was built to give the Smithsonian its first public display of its growing collections. Designed by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze, the building opened in 1881 when the ball was held in honor of President James A. Garfield's inauguration .
The building was designed symmetrically, consisting of a Greek cross with a central rotunda. The outside is decorated with geometric patterns made of multi-colored bricks. The sculpture Columbia protects science and industry by the sculptor Caspar Buberl was installed above the main entrance on the north side . The interior of the building was partially illuminated through the use of skylights and light alleys. In 1883 the facade was made more dynamic by using more chestnut-colored bricks.
In 1910, the natural history collections were moved to the new National Museum of Natural History , and the old museum was given its current name. In 1964, the remaining exhibits were relocated to the National Museum of History and Technology , now known as the National Museum of American History . On November 11, 1971, the Arts and Industries Building was listed as a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places . In 1976, the Arts and Industries Building was opened with the exhibition 1876: A Centennial Exhibition of Objects from Around the World, displayed at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 . The building will later house changing exhibitions and a children's theater, the Discovery Theater . In 2004 the museum was closed again for renovation work. The uncertain future and deteriorating condition led the management of the National Trust for Historic Preservation to list it as one of America's Most Endangered Places in 2006 , an annual list of the most threatened historical sites in the United States.
Web links
Individual evidence
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↑ Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: District of Columbia. National Park Service , accessed July 19, 2019.
Arts and Industries Building on the National Register Information System. National Park Service , accessed August 4, 2017.
