Museum of the Smithsonian Institution Building

Summary

• The engraving was probably executed before the hall was completed because it shows three tiers of cases, a plan which was intended by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Joseph Henry (1846-1878), but in fact was never cared out. The engraving also mistakenly shows the room illuminated by gas fixtures.
• Engraving of the Smithsonian Institution Building, or "Castle," museum with visitors viewing objects in display cases. The engraving was published in the Smithsonian Guidebook of 1857.

Subject

• Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.)
• Smithsonian Institution Building Lower Main Hall
• Smithsonian Institution Building Great Hall

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Notes

• From William Jones Rhees, An Account of the Smithsonian Institution (Philadelphia: Collins, 1857).
• There are additional prints of this image with negative numbers 43804-H and 75-12247 in Record Unit 95, Box 41, Folder: 15.
• See Field, Stamm, Ewing, THE CASTLE, p.56.

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 41, Folder: 15

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

1857

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

• Museum buildings
• Guide books
• Exhibitions
• Museums
• Visitor's Guide
• Museum visitors

Place

Washington (D.C.)

Form/Genre

• Engraving
• Photographic print

ID Number

SIA2011-2816 or 91-17967

Physical description

Number of Images: 1 ; Color: Black and White ; Size: 10w x 8h ; Type of Image: Engraving ; Medium: Photographic Print

Full Record

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