Color Image of the Smithsonian Castle on Fire

Summary

Colored in photograph of the Smithsonian Institution Building or "Castle" on fire in 1865. People are visible standing around watching the burning of the Smithsonian Institution Building, the "Castle," January 24, 1865. The photograph was taken and heavily retouched by Alexander Gardner, where he painted flames on the photographic print. It is mounted on paper.

Subject

• Harper's Weekly
• Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.)

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Notes

• Engraving made from this retouched photograph was published in Harper's Weekly, February 1865. For engraving, see Negative Number 2002-12222. The Harper's Weekly image has the entire building consumed in flames, inaccurate since the east wing did not sustain much damage.
• For a black and white photographic print with the Negative Number 37082 or MAH-37082.

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 30, Folder: 9

Contact information

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

Date

January 24, 1865

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

• Museum buildings
• Architecture
• Disasters
• Fire
• Accidents
• Fires
• Buildings
• Event

Place

Washington (D.C.)

Form/Genre

• Exterior
• Photographic print
• Paper

ID Number

SIA2013-08351

Physical description

Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 11.6w x 9.7h; Type of Image: Exterior; Medium: Paper; Photographic Print

Full Record

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