The United States National Museum Building, now the Arts and Industries Building, at the turn of the century. The building opened in 1881 and housed a majority of the museums exhibitions, from Mammals and Geology to Engineering and Art.

The Ethnology exhibition in the United States National Museum displayed dioramas of Native Americans with the George Catlin Indian paintings on the walls in the background.

Not long after the United States National Museum building opened, more space was needed to exhibit collections. The construction of second floor galleries began in 1897 and continued until 1903. Here workers are mixing material on the ground floor and using a pulley to lift it to the gallery construction area.

The Guard Force of the United States National Museum in 1900: (front) William H. Brelsford, William W. Wallingsford, William C. Weeden, George C. Neale, J.W. Westfall; (rear) John J. Desmond, F.D. Queen, E.P. Herendeen, unidentified, Joseph H. Horan, and James T. Gant.

Gardeners are arranging a floral bed in front of the United States National Museum building around the turn of the century. Two statues from Easter Island are on either side of the north entrance to the building and a guard is seated at the door.

Next ~ Back

~ Beginning ~ Smithsonian Institution Building and the Mall ~ United States National Museum ~
~ National Zoological Park ~ Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory ~
~ Langley and the Aerodrome ~ Pan-American Exposition ~ Facts & Figures ~

~ Return to Exhibition ~