Historic Pictures of:

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The South Yard

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of the Smithsonian Institution Building

Taxidermy shop in the South Shed behind the Smithsonian Building Negative number: 6071
The model and taxidermy shop in the South Shed which was located in the South Yard behind the Smithsonian Institution Building around 1880. William Palmer (Taxidermist, 1874-1921, Chief Taxidermist, 1890-1921) is working on a tiger.

Two buffalo in the South Yard of the Smithsonian Institution Building Negative number: 8008A
Two buffalo in a paddock in the South Yard behind the Smithsonian Institution Building. They were aquired by the Department of Living Animals, which became the National Zoological Park, in 1886. This photograph was taken sometime between 1886 and 1889.

Building in South Yard Negative number: 10039
The South Shed in the South Yard behind the Smithsonian Institution Building, early 1900's. The shed was built in 1898 and was used until the Fall of 1975 when it was torn down.

Langley's Aerodrome Shop in the South Shed Negative number: 92-3572
Samuel P. Langley's Aerodrome Shop in the South Shed in the South Yard of the Smithsonian Institution Building on 31 January 1900. Langley was the third Secretary of the Smithsonian and attempted to build the first manned flying machine.

Interior of the National Air Museum in the South Yard Negative number: A10792-C
Interior of the National Air Museum located in the South Yard of the Smithsonian Institution Building. The National Air Museum was established on 12 August 1946 and was housed in a temporary building dating from World War I and remained there until 1976 when the National Air and Space Museum opened.

Atlas Missel being installed in the South Yard Negative number: 56605-J
Atlas missile being installed as part of Rocket Row in the South Yard on the west side of the Arts and Industries Building, ca. 1955-1965.

South Yard behind the Smithsonian Building in 1974, the Air Museum and Rocket Row are visible Negative number: 74-6617
View of the South Yard in 1974 taken from the roof of the Forrestal Building across the street. In the South Yard is the National Air Museum and Rocket Row along the west facade of the Arts and Industries Building, along with the Annex and sheds.

Plants stored between the greenhouse and office building in the South Yard, 1974 Negative number: 74-6624
Plants stored in between the greenhouse and the office building in the South Yard of the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1974.

Victorian Garden in the South Yard of the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1976 Negative number: 76-15440-3
View of the Victorian Garden in the South Yard of the Smithsonian Institution Building looking north, 1976. The design, developed by the Office of Horticulture, is based on the horticultural displays at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876.

S. Dillon and Mary Ripley in front of the South Yard, 1987 Negative number: 96-600
Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley standing with his wife, Mary Livingston Ripley, on the roof of a building across from the South Yard, 1987. Aerial view shows Smithsonian Institution Building, Enid A. Haupt Garden, National Museum of African Art (right) and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of Art (left).

Information on copyright and location of original photograph.


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