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The Smithsonian Castle in its Original Splendor: A View of DC’s Iconic Building in 1863

Take a step back in time and explore a Civil War-era photo of Independence Ave. This incredible photo showcases the Smithsonian Institution Building and the U.S. Capitol dome, taken before the 1865 fire. Source: Smithsonian Archives.
Photo shows Sewall-Belmont House, 144 Constitution Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C.
A street vendor and his radio-equipped cart circa 1928 in Washington, D.C. 4x5 glass negative from the National Photo Company Collection. (Shorpy)
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The Smithsonian Institution Building, known fondly as “The Castle,” is captured here in an 1863 photograph showing the building in its original glory. Designed in a Norman-style and opened in 1855, the Castle sits majestically amidst landscaped grounds planned by Andrew Jackson Downing. The lush trees frame the sandstone building, with its central section and two towers topped jauntily with caps.

This view looking east up B Street (now Independence Ave) towards the unfinished Capitol dome also shows the Magnetic Observatory, the first Smithsonian building constructed in 1853. But the real star is the Castle itself, seen here prior to a 1865 fire that destroyed its central roof and tower caps. This photo allows us to glimpse the Smithsonian’s headquarters in its early heyday, before fire and time altered its appearance. Yet the grand old Castle remains the heart of the Smithsonian complex, a testament to the Institution’s longevity. Even without its roof and tower caps, the Norman-style building continues to be an iconic and beloved landmark on the National Mall.

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View of the Smithsonian Institution Building looking east up B Street (Independence Ave) towards the U.S. Capitol. Grounds are landscaped following a plan laid out by Andrew Jackson Downing, with the Castle nestled among trees. Visible amidst the trees is the Magnetic Observatory, built in 1853. People stand along the fence installed along the sidewalk on B Street In this image, the central roof of the Castle is intact and the small towers have the caps on them. In January of 1865, a fire destroyed the central roof and the caps on the towers, so this photograph had to have been taken prior to January 1865 and is most likely April 1863. The Capitol dome, seen in the distance, is not yet completed
View of the Smithsonian Institution Building looking east up B Street (Independence Ave) towards the U.S. Capitol. Grounds are landscaped following a plan laid out by Andrew Jackson Downing, with the Castle nestled among trees. Visible amidst the trees is the Magnetic Observatory, built in 1853. People stand along the fence installed along the sidewalk on B Street. Source: Smithsonian Archives
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