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Smithsonian

Since James Smithson’s bequest established the Smithsonian Institution in 1846, the organization has grown from a single building on the Mall to a complex of museums that defines how the world experiences American history and culture. These posts explore the history of the Smithsonian’s buildings, collections, and the stories behind the institution itself.

25 stories
Looking toward the west side of the United States Capitol building, a panoramic view of the city of Washington, D.C. shows the Mall area in the foreground before the railroad tracks were removed. A train is visible on the tracks. The domed structure in front of the Capitol is the Botanic Garden original octagonal greenhouse of 1859 and behind it the central pavilion added after the Civil War. The buildings were razed in 1932. The Botanic Garden was on a site previously occupied by the Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences in Washington, D.C.The Capitol in 1900, Seen From the Smithsonian CastleUpdated May 30Lion statue at the front gate of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park on Connecticut Avenue in Washington DCThe 1995 National Zoo Lion Attack: Margaret Davis King and the Lions’ DenUpdated May 27Two American bison in a paddock in the South Yard behind the Smithsonian Castle, c. 1887-1889How Bison on the Mall Became the National ZooUpdated May 17

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Inside the National Air and Space Museum: Source: SmithsonianWhen Was the Air and Space Museum Built? A Historical OverviewOct 18, 2023Smithsonian Institution Building, “The Castle,” c. 1867.The Smithsonian Castle, Photographed in 1867Jul 30, 2023Smithsonian Castle (1900)Why Is It Named The Smithsonian?May 17, 2022Early Rejected Designs for the National Air and Space MuseumFeb 23, 2022Tracing the Construction of the Arts and Industries Building on the Mall in Washington, DCApr 18, 2019What a Lovely Old Photo of the Smithsonian Castle in 1856Apr 15, 2019
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