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Smithsonian Institution Building
Also known as the "Castle"

Click here for a short history
of the Smithsonian Institution Building

Looking at the Smithsonian Institution Building from the north east, with a field of flowers in front of it Negative number: 9748a
The Smithsonian Institution Building from the northeast before the fire of 1865.

View of the Castle in 1855Negative number: 18603
The Smithsonian Institution Building from downtown Washington, D.C., from across The Mall, around 1855. In the foreground is construction materials for the Treasury Building which added a new wing in 1855.

Smithsonian Institution Building from a distance across Pennsylvania Avenue and the MallNegative number: 48646
The Smithsonian Institution Building from the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 11th Street, looking south, on 10 April 1874. The photograph was taken by William Henry Holmes and is signed, "W.H.H. Phot."

Smithsonian Institution Building from the north east Negative number: 29731
The Smithsonian Institution Building from the northeast after the fire of 1865 which destroyed the upper story of the main segment and the north and south towers.

View of the South Yard of the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1885 Negative number: 2889
Few changes had occurred on the south facade of the Smithsonian Institution Building by 1885 except for the wooden shed to the right of the south door and the alteration of the entrance on the south side of the east wing into a freight loading platform, which was removed in 1971.

View of the Smithsonian Institution Building from across The Mall Negative number: 72-1970
View of the north towers of the Smithsonian Institution Building from across the National Mall in the late 19th century.

The Mall viewed from the North Porch of SIB Negative number: 1255
Looking out at the "Smithsonian Park," now know as the National Mall, from the North Carriage Porch of the Smithsonian Institution Building, late 19th century.

Smithsonian Institution Building in the snow in 1903 Negative number: 94-12566
Smithsonian Institution Building after a snow fall in 1903.

The Star Spangled Banner outside Smithsonian Institution Building Negative number: 19703a
The Star Spangled Banner hanging from the exterior of the Smithsonian Institution Building in 1914, shortly after it was aquired for the National Museum.

Smithsonian Institution Building from across The Mall in 1928 Negative number: 31274A
The Smithsonian Institution Building and the National Mall from the roof of the National Museum of Natural History in 1928. The Mall is seen shortly before it is cleared of trees and leveled.

Reparing of the Smithsonian Building towers with the Washington Monument in the background Negative number: 15103-B
Workmen on scaffolding repair the northwest tower of the Smithsonian Institution Building. The Mall and Washington Monument are visible in the background.

Fixing the Clock Negative number: 91-13640-37
American History's David Todd lends his clockmaker's art to the tricky job of refitting the newly gold-leafed hands to the north face of the Castle clock, 1991. Photo by Eric Long.

Information on copyright and location of original photograph.


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