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Interior of the Smithsonian Institution Building

Click here for a short history
of the Smithsonian Institution Building

Visitors to the lower Main Hall if the Smithsonian Building Negative number: 60144-A
Visitors in the Lower Main Hall, the Great Hall, of the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1867.

West Range of the Smithsonian Building, before 1865 Negative number: 95-20765
The West Range of the Smithsonian Institution Building around 1871. The range displayed ethnological specimens of North Americn Indian workmanship along with artifacts from China, Japan, and prehistoric France for purposes of comparison. Along the arcades hung portraits depicting Indian delegates visiting Washington between 1858 and 1869, painted by Antonio Zeno Shindler, an artist employed by the National Museum.

Music room of the Henry apartments, 1862 Negative number: 46638-C
The first Secretary of the Smithsonian Joseph Henry and his family lived in the Smithsonian Institution Building, also known as the Castle. This is the Music Room of the Henry apartments in 1862, photograph by Titian R. Peale.

Bedroom of the Herny apartment in the Smithsonian Building, ca. 1878 Negative number: 1238
One of the bedrooms of the Henry apartments around 1878. Photo by Thomas W. Smillie, Smithsonian Institution Photographer.

Four young naturalists who lived in the Castle in its early years Negative number: 43604-I
Many scientists lived in the Smithsonian Institution Building in its early years. These four young naturalists lived in the building and often collected for the Smithsonian Institution while on exploring expeditions in the mid-nineteenth century. Clockwise from upper left: Robert Kennicott, Henry Ulke, Henry Bryant and William Stimpson.

International Exchange Service in the basement of the Smithsonian Building, early 1900's Negative number: 15674
The International Exchange Service in the basement of the Smithsonian Institution Building in the early 1900's.

Prehistoric Archeology exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution Building Negative number: 2962
Prehistoric Archeology exhibit in Upper Main Hall (above Great Hall) of the Smithsonian Institution Building showing ethnological and archeological specimens, looking west c. 1879-1903. The Tsimshian house front, acquired for display at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876, is visible at the back of the room.

Curators of Crustaceans in the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1904 Negative number: 18938
Curators of Crustaceans and other offices, located on the former exhibit balconies of the Great Hall in the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1904. The balcony exhibit space was replaced by offices beginning in 1882. The balconies were demolished in 1914 to make way for the library and Graphic Arts displays.

Women repairing the Star Spangled Banner in the West Wing of the Smithsonian Building Negative number: 27897
Women at work repairing the Star Spangled Banner in the West Wing Chapel of the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1914. The closing of the West Wing for restoration allowed the hall to be used for this purpose. To preserve the flag, a team of seamstresses used a series of interlocking open buttonhole stiches to secure the tattered flag to a backing of unbleached linen.

Owls named Increase and Diffusion in the West Tower, SIB Negative number: 96-929
Owls, named Increase and Diffusion, in the West Tower of the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1977. Photo by Michael Johnson.

Information on copyright and location of original photograph.


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