Building History, Description and Significance Evaluation of Significance 1.4 Statement of Significance cities across the nation and world-wide through the The AIB, built between 1879 and 1881 and originally participation of the SI and the National Museum in the known as the National Museum Building, was great international expositions of the 19th and early constructed to house the vast foreign and domestic 20th centuries. And, the National Museum contributed donations to the United States (U.S.) government immeasurably to the understanding of this country’s of exhibits from the 1876 International Exposition in cultural history — particularly that of Native American Philadelphia, which commemorated the Centennial of and Pacific Rim societies — through its preservation American Independence. It also was built to house the of the collections from U. S. government-sponsored growing Smithsonian Institution collections that could expeditions of exploration of the 19th century, as well not be accommodated in the Smithsonian Institution as the collections of various government departments. Building, now known as the Castle. It was the first of a group of purpose-built museums built by the SI The museum also has been a vital cultural force in with a combination of federal and private funding. The the nation’s capital through a series of both popular AIB possesses integrity of location, design, setting, and professional lectures and publications, instituted materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. at the very beginning of the SI’s occupation of The building was listed in the District of Columbia the building. In the 20th century, demonstrations, Inventory of Historic Sites in 1964 and, in 1971, it was classes, and publications extended the educational listed on the National Register of Historic Places and advantages provided through the Institution and the designated a National Historic Landmark. museums. Historical and Institutional Significance Architectural Significance The AIB was constructed to receive, exhibit, and The AIB is a fine and unique example of early, preserve the collections of the natural resources, innovative museum design inspired by the design of arts, and industries belonging to the national international exposition buildings following the 1851 government and was the beginning of what is now success of the Crystal Palace in London. Through the one of the greatest museum complexes in the adroit manipulation of mass, scale, line, proportion, world. In this building, the SI developed methods of and color, the design avoids the monumentality museum administration, specimen preparation and typical of museum buildings, welcoming the public preservation, classification and labeling, exhibition, to explore, celebrate, and learn about the natural and education outreach that became standard resources, arts, and industries of the United States. practice in museums worldwide. Sharing exhibits, It is an early example of a building in which integrity plans, and publications with museums in other cities of form is expressed directly through structural and countries, the National Museum served as a and functional clarity. The AIB also exemplifies model institution assisting in the development of other the use of new building technologies and design museums. The natural resources, arts, and industrial attitudes to quickly, inexpensively, and ingeniously innovations of the United States were introduced to construct a new building type. The building — the Historic Structure Report & Conditions Assessment Smithsonian Institution Arts & Industries Building 08.31.2009 1.4 – 1 last remaining brick building facing the Mall1 — is an activities, or persons. Because the signiFicance of exceptional example of brick masonry architecture, the AIB includes both institutional and architectural in both design and craftsmanship, as used in a major signiFicance, the primary Period oF SigniFicance For the government building in a city where monumental building must represent not only the character-deFining stone architectural design prevails for such buildings. Features oF the design and construction but also reFlect Finally, its modern Romanesque style purposefully the inFluential changes in the Institution. The primary complements the historical Norman Romanesque Period oF SigniFicance is, thereFore, between 1881 style and scale of the Smithsonian Institution Building. and 1902 as it represents both the architectural and institutional signiFicance oF the AIB. The AIB is a major work of the notable Washington architectural/engineering firm of Cluss & Schulze 1881 to 1896: A Museum for the Public Footnote 1: In the late 19th with Adolf Cluss, FAIA, as architect-in-charge. Cluss century, several other brick The initial years after the building’s completion reflect buildings were located along was the premier architect in Washington during the physical realization of the building’s design the Mall, including the Old the Civil War and Reconstruction period, designing Department of Agriculture, the concept at a time before the roles of the SI were Army Museum, and Central model urban public schools and markets for the city. formalized. The need for the building was catalyzed Market, all buildings designed Among his best known works are the old Department by the acquisition of the Centennial Exhibition in the office of Adolf Cluss. of Agriculture Building, the National Museum, and collection. The design and funding of an appropriate Footnote 2: G.B. Goode, the Army Medical Museum on the National Mall. He structure also contributed to and allowed the “Principles oF Museum Administration,” [1895] reprinted also was well-known for many private commercial, expansion of the mission of the SI. This commitment in USNM AR 1897, PT II, 200. institutional, and residential buildings in Washington, and undertaking by the SI is remarkable given the D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; and Alexandria, Virginia. Footnote 3: USNM AR 1897, Institution’s mere 35 years of existence. (The design PT II, 225. intent and influences on Cluss are examined in the The design of the AIB reflects a close, 25-year Footnote 4: March 1, 1882 Report section of this report on the history of the building oF the Assistant Director oF the working relationship between Cluss and Smithsonian and its context. The critical roles of the building United States National Museum, For Secretary Spencer Fullerton Baird, during which the Year 1881, report by G. Brown commission and the SI secretaries are detailed in the Goode, Assistant Director, US time the programmatic requirements for a national Historical Background and Context section where the National Museum (SI-AHHP, Box museum gradually and thoughtfully developed. Cluss’ detail of their missions, contributions, and goals for 12). May 31, 1882 Excavating was relationship with General Montgomery C. Meigs also begun April 20th For the coal vaults the collections are enumerated.) For [the] Museum building and is is significant to the building and evident in the initial now underway.... exchange of design sketches between the two men, Joseph Henry (Smithsonian Institution Secretary from Footnote 5: January 1885 the structural solutions developed, and the design of 1846 to 1878), while leading the establishment of the Letter/semi-annual report the AIB’s heating system. submitted to G. Brown Goode SI, set forth the need for a more modern museum (SIA, RU 158, Box 22, USNM building than the first Smithsonian Institution Building. 1881-1964, Curators’ Annual Identification of Primary Period of Significance Spencer Fullerton Baird (Smithsonian Institution Reports). Sept.: The repair of the slate roof of Museum Period of Significance is deFined as an extent of Assistant Secretary until 1878 and Secretary until building was begun on the 12th time when a property attained its most important 1887) played a significant role in the establishment --- completed the 17th. characteristics or was associated with important events, Historic Structure Report & 1.4 – 2 08.31.2009 Smithsonian Institution Arts & Industries Building Conditions Assessment Building History, Description and Significance Evaluation of Significance 1.4 Footnote 6: January 1, 1886 of the museum prior to 1881 with his development While, initially, Goode was pleased with the building, Letter/semi-annual report of the U.S. exhibits at the Centennial Exposition and his later writings indicate that he struggled with the submitted to G. Brown Goode (SIA, RU 158, Box 22, USNM his success in convincing many of the exhibitors building’s ability to support the model of a public 1881-1964, Curators’ Annual to donate their exhibits to the SI. These materials, museum. The growing SI led him to make physical Reports). Aug: “...The leaky in combination with his political efforts to create a changes to the building from 1882 until his death condition oF the skylight in the laboratory was repaired without National Museum, were realized in 1881. The AIB in September 1896. During these years, Baird, any material cost. .. Sept. 17: was born from a series of collections that revealed as Secretary, and Goode, as Assistant Secretary Many repairs have also been necessary to the rooF oF the ethnological history through manmade objects in charge of the National Museum, directed the National Museum Building, combined with natural history exhibits. Samuel changes, described in the Semi-Annual Report of occupying much time oF the tinner. .. Dec. 2: The two dark rooms on Pierpont Langley (Smithsonian Institution Secretary