Description: Throughout the next months, the Smithsonian Institution Archives will feature posts related to the Smithsonian and the Civil War in honor of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. On July 21, 1861, the First Battle of Manassas raged just thirty miles southwest of Washington DC and the Smithsonian Institution Building that housed Secretary Joseph Henry and his family.
Description: Although America declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776, Washington, DC, did not become the nation’s capital until July 1790. Today Washington is home to many historic national monuments and landmarks. The postcards in this gallery provide scenic views of a selection of these monuments and landmarks, including several of the Smithsonian’s museums.