With the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture quickly approaching this September, I thought it would be fun to look at how the buildings of the Smithsonian Institution have altered not only in their outward appearance, but how their presence has changed the landscape of the National Mall, too!
Left: Rocket Row along the west side of the Arts and Industries Building before the National Air and Space Museum was built, 1960s. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 2002-12168.
Right: Front view of the Arts and Industries Building, 2006. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 2006-20028.
Left: North Facade of the Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, circa 1900. The Joseph Henry Statue is facing the North Entrance. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# MAH-32913.
Right: North Facade of the Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, 1994. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 94-5974.
Left: Construction work on the south front of the National Museum of Natural History on March 27, 1909. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 2003-19551.
Right: The National Mall entrance to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, 2006. 2006-25789- Photo by Chip Clark, Smithsonian Institution.
Left: Aerial view of the National Museum of Natural History, looking northeast, showing the newly completed East Wing, August 29, 1963. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# MAH-P63361B.
Right: Aerial view, National Museum of Natural History, 1993. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 93-869-14.
Left: Aerial view of the construction progress of the National Museum of American History, August 29, 1963. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 2002-12160.
Right: Aerial view of the Museum of American History and the Federal Triangle, Washington, D.C., 2008. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, photograph by Carol M. Highsmith [LC-DIG-highsm-04970]
Left: Aerial view of the Mall showing the construction of the National Museum of American History, in the lower left foreground, 1960s. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 2002-32249.
Right: Aerial view, National Mall, 1994. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 93-958.
Left: Construction of the National Air and Space Museum with the steel structure going up, October 16, 1973. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 73-10771-32A.
Right: The National Air and Space Museum, Independence Avenue side, 1994. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# 94-2462.
Left: First in a series of four panoramic photographs of Washington, D.C., from left to right, taken from a tower in the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1887. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image# MAH-61686A.
Right: Aerial view of Washington Monument, with the new National Museum of African American History and Culture building, 2015. Photo by Michael Barnes. Smithsonian Institution Archives, 2015-18489.
Related Collections
Accession 11-006 - United States National Museum, Division of Graphic Arts, Photograph Collection, 1860-1960, Smithsonian Institution Archives
Accession 11-007 - United States National Museum, Division of Graphic Arts, Photograph Collection, 1860-1960, Smithsonian Institution Archives
Accession 11-008 - Office of Public Affairs, Photographic Collection, 1960-1970, Smithsonian Institution Archives
Accession 11-009 - Smithsonian Photographic Services, Photographic Collection, 1971-2006, Smithsonian Institution Archives
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