Description: The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden opened in 1974 to house the modern art collection of Joseph H. Hirshhorn. Located west of the Arts and Industries Building, in the first truly modern building on the National Mall, the Museum and Sculpture Garden feature artists such as Calder, de Kooning, and Rodin. History of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture GardenAdditional
Description: "Statue of Freedom," the plaster figure used to cast the statue on top of the U.S. Capitol, in the rotunda of the Arts and Industries Building while being dismantled for storage, February 27, 1967, SIA Acc. 11-008, OPA-1002R1-03.
Description: The Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, was designed by architect James Renwick, Jr. Construction began in 1847 and was finished in 1855. The statue in front of the Castle, which is visible in many of these postcards, is of Joseph Henry, who was the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. The postcards in this gallery provide exterior views of the Castle.
Description: Nearly two years ago, I first heard of a course on the conservation of Japanese paper co-organized by ICCROM, the cultural heritage arm of UNESCO, and the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (also known in Japanese as “Tobunken”). Over three weeks, the course offered a first-hand look at the traditional Japanese conservation techniques, materials, and