|
Building" (1881), was the first building expressly built as a museum on the National Mall, & is the second oldest of the Smithsonian museums on the Mall. Initially called the National Museum, it was designed by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze, The Greek cross design with a central rotunda, has an eye-catching exterior of multi-colored polychrome brick in attractive geometric patterns. Sadly, the building has gradually lost its purpose over the years. The collections were moved to other museums in 1920 & 1964. Although it hosted an exposition in 1976 featuring objects from the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, the building has had limited use since then. It was closed for renovation in 2004 & its uncertain future and deteriorating condition led the National Trust for Historic Preservation to name it in 2006 as one of America's Most Endangered Places, an annual list of endangered historic sites.
| 
North America
view full-size
image -- 1008 x 559)