National Building Museum- Washington, DC

Oh, the arches. They are absolutely everywhere at the National Building Museum, which is fitting for an organization dedicated to architecture, design, engineering and construction. Originally built to house the United States Pension Bureau, the spectacular soaring space makes for a perfect museum, one where the building is every bit as interesting as the exhibits.

Designed by Montgomery C. Meigs, civil engineer and Quartermaster General during the Civil War, the 1887 building is one of the earliest large scale Renaissance Revival structures built in the United States. Intended to administer the benefits for veterans of the Civil War, the building was designed to house a staff of over 1500 people, serve as a memorial to the Union forces, and function as an event venue.

Constructed of 15,500,000 bricks, with terra cotta ornamentation, the exterior of the building boasts a 1200 foot Caspar Buberl designed frieze, featuring a continuous parade of Union forces. Inside, open offices were built around the perimeter of the fifteen story Great Hall, part of an innovative design intended to circulate fresh air throughout the building. Above, a gabled roof supported by eight massive Corinthian columns.

Among the tallest in the world, each 75 foot column contains over 70,000 bricks, covered in plaster and painted to resemble Siena marble, with decorative terra cotta bases and plaster capitals. These are joined by 72 ground floor terra cotta and cement Doric columns, and 72 second floor cast iron Ionic columns, including twenty filled with historical documents, which form a magnificent airy arcade.

Above the arcade, 76 decorative terra cotta urns, designed to be planters, ring the room. The originals disappeared after the Pension Bureau relocated in the 1920s, however, new casts were made when one was discovered on the lawn of a Northwest Washington home.

Just below the roof, 235 niches containing life sized busts representing professions associated with the building trade, commissioned by the museum. Although Meigs suggested filling the niches with military figures, they were eventually outfitted with death masks lent by the Smithsonian; they may have run out of money, the final cost of construction was $886,614, a hefty amount in 1887.

A grand and elegant space, the building has hosted 19 inaugural balls over the years, starting with Grover Cleveland’s in 1885, two years before the building was complete. Harrison’s ball followed, an elaborate affair with 12,000 guests, costing $50,000. Prior to McKinley’s 1901 ball, the presidential seal was inlaid in the floor of the Great Hall.

Vacated by the Pension Bureau in 1926, the building housed several other government agencies until the 1960s, when condition issues forced its closure. Demolition was considered, however severe opposition resulted in a 1978 Congressional resolution calling for the preservation of the building as a national treasure. Following an extensive restoration, the National Building Museum opened in 1985.

Although not one of the better known museums in the District, it is a photographer’s dream. Take the free tour to access otherwise off limit areas, which offer some of the best vantage points in the house. The classic details and lighting make for endless photographic possibilities, including shots perfectly framed by one of the building’s many arches. Beautifully designed and filled with history, it is an absolute treasure.

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