Arts and Industries Building, Smithsonian Institution (National Museum)
- Architect
- Adolf Cluss
- Year
- 2016
- City
- Washington, DC
The Arts and Industries Building is the second-oldest Smithsonian museum building on the National Mall, after the Castle. Designed by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze and opened in 1881 as the National Museum, it hosted an inaugural ball for President James A. Garfield. It closed in 2004 for repair and renovation and reopened in 2021 with the exhibition 'Futures.'
the building
A Greek cross around a rotunda. The building is laid out symmetrically as a Greek cross with a central rotunda, its exterior built of polychrome brick in geometric patterns. Above the main entrance on the north side stands the sculpture Columbia Protecting Science and Industry, by Caspar Buberl.
Set back from the Castle's view. The building was deliberately sited farther back from the Mall than the neighboring Smithsonian Castle so it wouldn't obscure the Castle's view from the Capitol.
Daylight from above. The interior was partially lit through skylights and clerestory openings rather than relying on side windows alone.
the architect
Adolf Cluss was a prominent Washington, D.C. architect; here he worked with Paul Schulze to give the Smithsonian its first purpose-built museum building.
significance
The building is a DC Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark, designated in 1971. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has also been named to America's Most Endangered Historic Places.
nearby
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- Smithsonian Institution
- Freer Gallery of Art
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
- National Air and Space Museum
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Cotton Annex