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.
![Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, by Unknown, 1978, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 78-6607. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-78-6607-000002/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Exterior view of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden with the sculpture garden in the foreground. Visitors are visible in the garden and on the ramp.
![Demolition of Army Medical Museum, by Neufeld, Harry B, 1969, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 94-1513. Demolition of Army Medical Museum](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-94-1513/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Demolition the old Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Medical Museum to make room for the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden building, spring 1969.
![Construction of the Hirshhorn Museum, by Unknown, December 14,1972, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, SIA2011-1450 or 85-4824 or SA1295. Construction of the Hirshhorn Museum](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-SIA2011-1450/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
View of a new museum building, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, during construction. The National Gallery of Art's West Building, and the National Archives are visible in the background.
![Mayor Washington and Joseph Hirshhorn, by Unknown, 1974, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 92-1646. Mayor Washington and Joseph Hirshhorn](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-92-1646-000002/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Mayor Walter Washington presents Joseph Hirshhorn with the key to city on the opening day of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, October 4, 1974.
![Interior Court of the HMSG on Opening Night, by Unknown, 1974, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 92-1647. Interior Court of the HMSG on Opening Night](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-92-1647-000002/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
On opening night of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, October 4, 1974, a crowd has gathered in the interior court.
![Hirshhorn Museum on Opening Night, by Unknown, 1974, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 94-2860. Hirshhorn Museum on Opening Night, by Unknown, 1974, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 94-2860.](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-94-2860-000002/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Aerial view of the Sculpture Garden of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden taken on opening night, October 4, 1974.
![Abram Lerner Greeting First Visitor to HMSG, by Hofmeister, Richard K, 1974, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 74-9851-22. Abram Lerner Greeting First Visitor to HMSG](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-74-9851-22_temp/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Abram Lerner, Director, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 1967-1984, greets the first visitor to the Museum when it opened, Mrs. H.A. Calkins of Monrovia, California.
![Visitors to HMSG on Opening Night, by Unknown, 1974, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 92-1645. Visitors to HMSG on Opening Night, by Unknown, 1974, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 92-1645.](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-92-1645-000002/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Guests explore the treasure of art works in one of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden galleries on opening night, October 4, 1974.
![Aristide Maillol's Nymph and Mallard Ducks Outside Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, by Unknown, 1975, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, SIA2011-1458. Aristide Maillol's Nymph and Mallard Ducks Outside Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-SIA2011-1458/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Visitors to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in June not only saw Aristide Maillol's Nymph but also this wild mallard duck, proudly swimming with her young. A pair of mallards surprisingly had made the garden their home.
![Georgia O'Keeffe with Magritte Sculpture, by Farrar, Richard, 1977, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 92-1789. Georgia O'Keeffe with Magritte Sculpture](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-92-1789/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Georgia O'Keefe at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (HMSG) with Rene Magritte's sculpture "Delusions of Grandeur," 11 November 1977.
![HMSG sculpture airlifted back to garden, by Tinsley, Jeffrey Wayne 1947-2017, 1981, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 2002-32261. HMSG sculpture airlifted back to garden](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-2002-32261/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Auguste Rodin's "Burghers of Calais" is airlifted back into the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's sculpture garden after the renovation of the garden.
![Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden, by Tinsley, Jeffrey Wayne 1947-2017, 1985, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 85-9180-10. Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-85-9180-10-000002/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Statues displayed in the sunken Sculpture Garden of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
![Installation of Jim Dine's Exhibit at HMSG, by Stalsworth, Lee, February, 1985, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 95-1197. Installation of Jim Dine's Exhibit at HMSG](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-95-1197-000002/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
On the plaza of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, February 1985, one of the two hearts of Jim Dine's bronze work "Two Big Black Hearts" is being hoisted by workmen using ropes in preparation for its installation inside the museum. The hearts, which are encrusted with molds of hands, faces, axes, hammers and other tools, were completed for "Jim Dine: Five Themes" on view at the HMSG until April 28, 1985. The National Air and Space Museum is in the background.
![Associates Tour of the HMSG, by Tinsley, Jeffrey Wayne 1947-2017, 1986, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 86-4461-16 or SIA86-4461-16. Associates Tour of the HMSG](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-86-4461-16-000002/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
At a conservation demonstration by conservator Susan Lake, visiting Associates tour the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Onlookers are (l-r): Albert Camarillo (Stanford), Dwight Henderson (University of Texas), Philip Young (University of Oregon), Robert Perry (Bowling Green State), Mary Jean Moseley (Fort Lewis College), Suzanne Brooks (Penn State), Fellowships and Grants Program Assistant Carolin McManus, and Ray Branham.
![Unloading Part of Hirshhorn Bequest, by Unknown, 1986, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 97-9609. Unloading Part of Hirshhorn Bequest, by Unknown, 1986, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 97-9609.](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-97-9609/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden staffers unloading Alan Feltus' "Three Women" (1973), one of the large number of paintings, drawings and sculpture from the Joseph Hirshhorn bequest that arrived from the New York City warehouse where they were kept previously. This bequest added about 5,500 additional works to the collection. Photograph shows painting being unloaded at the garage at the side (7th and Independence) of the Museum.
![Willem de Kooning in His Studio, by Unknown, 1961, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, SIA2011-2241. Willem de Kooning in His Studio](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-SIA2011-2241/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
"Willem de Kooning: from the Hirshhorn Museum Collection," opens at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and will last through January 9, 1994. This launches an extensive tour of 50 works charting the Dutch-born American artist's development from 1939-1985
![Aerial View of the Mall Filled with People and Tents for 150th Birthday Party on the Mall, by Hofmeister, Richard K, 1996, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 96-25404-19 or 96-25404.19. Aerial View of the Mall Filled with People and Tents for 150th Birthday Party on the Mall](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-96-25404-19/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
An aerial view of the National Mall and the Smithsonian Museums looking east towards the United States Capitol Building, August 10, 1996. The Mall is filled with people and tents for the Birthday Party on the Mall celebrating the Smithsonian's 150th anniversary. Buildings that can be seen in the photograph are the Freer Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution Building, Arts and Industries Building, Hirshhorn Museum, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, National Gallery of Art, United States Capitol Building, National Archives and Records Administration, and the Department of Energy Forrestal Building.
![Conversation Sculpture at Hirshhorn, by Hurlbert, Donald E 1954-2015, June 13, 1999, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 2001-5373.020 or 2001-035346. Conversation Sculpture at Hirshhorn](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-2001-5373-020_wk/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Installation of Last Conversation Piece, by Juan Muñoz, 1994-1995, on the grassy plaza outside of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
![Peck Presidential Awards, Hirshhorn, by Talman, Hugh, October 18, 2003, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 2003-36220. Peck Presidential Awards, Hirshhorn](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-2003-36220_scn/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Presentation of the Paul Peck Presidential Awards in a Town Hall Session at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's Ring Auditorium.
![Hirshhorn Family Day, by Dorwin, Harold, May 8, 2004, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 2004-24332. Hirshhorn Family Day](https://ids.si.edu/ids/iiif/SIA-2004-24332_wk/full/300,/0/default.jpg)
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Family Day Garden Party with families sitting on the plaza.