Smithsonian Institution, (Washington, DC); Early 20th Century Pioneers - Faheema Ismail
Better known as the castle the Smithsonian institution began its construction in 1846 and was designed by architect James Renwick Jr, who had won the design competition held for said building. Renwick was known for his work I the Romanesque and Gothic styles and had also designed the gothic revival church in New York City. As it was being designed the original requests specified that it had to look very different from the other surrounding buildings in Washington at the time and for that reason it was built in the Medieval Revival Style. The materials were also to be locally sourced. The Building itself is constructed from red sandstone from Seneca Creek, Maryland. The eastern part of the building was the first to be complete and a majority of the work went into this piece until it was complete in 1855. Once it reached completion in 1855 the Castle was on a lone piece of land due to it being cut off from downtown Washington, DC, by a canal. In the following years the Castle sat as the Anchor point for the national mall as well as government buildings and addition museums built around it.
Several restoration projects were held on the Smithsonian institution building. In January of 1865 there was a fire that destroyed the upper stories of the north and south towers. Then in 1883 the east wing was, made fireproof and expanded for more office spaces. In 1968. It was remodeled and restored back to the Victorian era style that it was once made in. Finally in 1977 the Castle received the Historic Landmark title.
The Castle had served as the place of all Smithsonian operation including research spaces, administrative spaces and even once was the home and office pf the first secretary of the Smithsonian. It also held lecture halls, a library and reading room, exhibit halls, storage areas for specimen, chemical laboratories, and living quarters for visiting relatives of the secretary and scientists. Now known as the Arts and Industries building, the US National Museum opened across from the castle to house a majority of the museum’s collections. In the late 1880s the south yard became the National Zoological Park.
The Romanesque style this building was modeled after featured nine towers, the tallest being the north tower. The Romanesque style featured arched doorways and window, square towers and a façade made from brick and stone and thick masonry as well as asymmetrical facades. The Interior kept the stairways in the towers so the floors could remain open. The upper floor held a large lecture hall and an art gallery, as well as a scientific experimentation room. After the fire in 1855 the upper floor was used exclusively as a museum gallery, which later became the National Museum of Natural History Collection.
In the 1960s the upper hall was divided into two floors where the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars was housed. The last renovation was complete in 1970 and since 1972 the great hall has held a visitors center and is currently mainly used as office space. The next renovation is scheduled for 2020
https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_14431
https://siarchives.si.edu/history/smithsonian-institution-building-castle
https://www.si.edu/Content/ahhp/pdf/AHHP_brochure_web.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20120213204530/http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/historic/history.htm#sib
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_Smithsonian_Guidebook_Published.jpg
Several restoration projects were held on the Smithsonian institution building. In January of 1865 there was a fire that destroyed the upper stories of the north and south towers. Then in 1883 the east wing was, made fireproof and expanded for more office spaces. In 1968. It was remodeled and restored back to the Victorian era style that it was once made in. Finally in 1977 the Castle received the Historic Landmark title.
The Castle had served as the place of all Smithsonian operation including research spaces, administrative spaces and even once was the home and office pf the first secretary of the Smithsonian. It also held lecture halls, a library and reading room, exhibit halls, storage areas for specimen, chemical laboratories, and living quarters for visiting relatives of the secretary and scientists. Now known as the Arts and Industries building, the US National Museum opened across from the castle to house a majority of the museum’s collections. In the late 1880s the south yard became the National Zoological Park.
The Romanesque style this building was modeled after featured nine towers, the tallest being the north tower. The Romanesque style featured arched doorways and window, square towers and a façade made from brick and stone and thick masonry as well as asymmetrical facades. The Interior kept the stairways in the towers so the floors could remain open. The upper floor held a large lecture hall and an art gallery, as well as a scientific experimentation room. After the fire in 1855 the upper floor was used exclusively as a museum gallery, which later became the National Museum of Natural History Collection.
In the 1960s the upper hall was divided into two floors where the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars was housed. The last renovation was complete in 1970 and since 1972 the great hall has held a visitors center and is currently mainly used as office space. The next renovation is scheduled for 2020
https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_14431
https://siarchives.si.edu/history/smithsonian-institution-building-castle
https://www.si.edu/Content/ahhp/pdf/AHHP_brochure_web.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20120213204530/http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/historic/history.htm#sib
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_Smithsonian_Guidebook_Published.jpg
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