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James Renwick, Jr., Architect of
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James Renwick, Jr.

James Renwick, Jr. (November 1, 1818-June 23, 1895) was the architect of the Smithsonian Institution Building, also known as "the Castle." He was born in Bloomingdale, New York, to Margaret Brevoort, who was from a well-established New York family, and James Renwick, an engineer and professor of natural philosophy at Columbia College, now Columbia University. Renwick entered Columbia College at the age of twelve and graduated in 1836. He received an M.A. three years later.

Renwick was not trained as an architect but instead learned the skills from his father, and through a broad cultural education that included architectural history. He received his first commission in 1843 when he won the competition to design Grace Church, an Episcopal church in New York City, which followed the English Gothic style. In 1846 Renwick won the competition for the design of the Smithsonian Institution Building. It was in the Romanesque style, as requested by the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian, and was built of red sandstone quarried in Seneca, Maryland.

Renwick went on to design what is considered his finest achievement, St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.

The Renwick Gallery

Started in 1858 and opened in May of 1879, the cathedral is a mixture of the German, French, and English Gothic influences.

Another building that Renwick designed housed the first Corcoran Gallery of Art and was constructed between 1859 and 1871. Designed in the Second Empire style, the building is now home to the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery. Other buildings that Renwick designed include Saint Bartholomew's Church (1871-1872) in New York City, and All Saints' Roman Catholic Church (1882-1893) in Harlem which was designed in the Victorian Gothic style.

Documents On-Line

• Drawing of the North Tower

Other Resources

• Historic Pictures of the Smithsonian Institution Building
   
• Historic Pictures of the Interior of the Smithsonian Institution Building
   
• The Castle: A Tour of the Smithsonian Building in the 19th Century - from the Architectural History and Historic Preservation Division
   
• What Style Is It? - Explains the architectural style of the Smithsonian Institution Building, from the Architectural History and Historic Preservation Division