Summer In The City

A before-and-after look at the the entrances and rotundas around the Smithsonian.

With the hot summer months upon us, I thought it would be refreshing to get indoors and look at how entrances, rotundas and courtyards of Smithsonian buildings have changed over the years.  

National Portrait Gallery:

before
after

Left: Courtyard of the Old Patent Building, 1967. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image # 94-4429.

Right: Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard, 2010. Photo by Mark Gulezian, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of American History:

before
after

Left: Foucault Pendulum and the Star-Spangled Banner, 1993. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image # 93-13286-02.

Right: Abstract Flag, 2008. Photo by Hugh Talman, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Arts and Industries Building:

before
after

Left: "Statue of Freedom" in the Arts and Industries Rotunda, c. 1890s. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image # MAH-16238.

Right: Rotunda of Arts and Industries Building, 2017. Photo courtesy of author.

Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle:

before
after

Left: The Star-Spangled Banner laid out on tables in the West Wing of the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1914. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image # MAH-27462.

Right: West Wing of Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, 2005. Smithsonian Castle Collection.

National Air and Space Museum:

before
after

Left: Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall, 2014. Photo by Mark Avino, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Right: Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall on opening day, 2016. Photo by Mark Avino, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of Natural History:

before
after

Left: Fénykövi Elephant displayed in the National Museum of Natural History Building Rotunda, c. 1960s. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image # MNH-503.

Right: Fénykövi Elephant displayed in the National Museum of Natural History Building Rotunda after renovation, 2015. Photo by James Di Loreto, Smithsonian Institution.

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

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, The Bigger Picture, Smithsonian Institution Archives

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