Postcard of the New National Museum

ID: SIA2011-2289 (front) and SIA2011-2290 (back)

Creator:

Form/Genre: Postcard

Date: c. 1915-1930

Citation: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 84, Folder: 25

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Summary

Postcard of the new U.S. National Museum. The view is from the right side of the building. The roof appears red, though in reality it is actually gold, and an American Flag is flying from the building. Trees flank each side of the postcard. There is a pot of red and white flowers on a stone pedestal in front of the museum. The message side is unused, but it has a printed note about the museum: "The New National Museum, is under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution and supported by the annual appropriations of Congress. It has a frontage of 561 ft. on the Mall opposite the Old National Museum, a depth of 365 ft., a height of 82 ft., and cost $3,500,000. No greater opportunity for scientific research is found anywhere in the world than the combined collections of the Old and New National Museums at Washington. Here one may see any sort of exhibit from a huge meteorite to a few grains of sand, may trace human progress from antediluvian [time between the biblical creation of Earth and the biblical flood] days to twentieth century civilization, may gaze upon skeletons of huge extinct animals, behold a collection of nearly 13,000 different species of birds, or view historic and personal relics of priceless value." The front of the postcard has a white border.

Subject

  • National Museum of Natural History (U.S.)
  • United States National Museum

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Notes

  • The new U.S. National Museum opened to the public on March 17, 1910. The United States National Museum was first housed in what is now known as the Arts and Industries Building. The new United States National Museum is now the National Museum of Natural History.
  • The postcard is numbered 1500. Produced by Garrison Toy & Novelty Co., Washington, D.C.
  • This postcard is located in Accession 11-271, which is part of Record Unit 95.

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 84, Folder: 25

Contact information

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

Date

c. 1915-1930

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

  • Postcard
  • Museum buildings
  • Architecture--Washington (D.C.)
  • Architecture
  • Museums
  • Buildings

Place

Washington (D.C.)

Form/Genre

  • Postcard
  • Paper

ID Number

SIA2011-2289 (front) and SIA2011-2290 (back)

Physical description

Number of Images: 2; Color: Color; Size: 5.5w x 3.5h; Type of Image: Postcard; Medium: Paper

Full Record

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