Logo

U.S. National Archives

  • Archive
  • RSS
  • Ask
banner
Happy Birthday to the Smithsonian! Our neighbors on the National Mall were founded on August 10, 1846, when Congress passed legislation creating the Smithsonian Institution as an establishment dedicated to the “increase and diffusion of knowledge.”
The Smithsonian now consists of many museums, with collections that range from paintings and sculpture to stuffed and live animals to asteroids and space shuttles. The National Mall is ringed with buildings containing these varied collections.
But this photograph (part of our Mathew Brady collection) was taken during the Civil War, when that future was still decades away. Only “The Castle,” built in 1855, is standing on the future National Mall.
Image: Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C, ca. 1860-1865
Pop-upView Separately

Happy Birthday to the Smithsonian! Our neighbors on the National Mall were founded on August 10, 1846, when Congress passed legislation creating the Smithsonian Institution as an establishment dedicated to the “increase and diffusion of knowledge.”

The Smithsonian now consists of many museums, with collections that range from paintings and sculpture to stuffed and live animals to asteroids and space shuttles. The National Mall is ringed with buildings containing these varied collections.

But this photograph (part of our Mathew Brady collection) was taken during the Civil War, when that future was still decades away. Only “The Castle,” built in 1855, is standing on the future National Mall.

Image: Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C, ca. 1860-1865

Source: research.archives.gov

    • #history
    • #Smithsonian
    • #Mathew Brady
    • #National Mall
    • #The Castle
    • #washington dc
  • 9 months ago
  • 150
  • Permalink
Share

Short URL

TwitterFacebookPinterestGoogle+

150 Notes/ Hide

  1. joycejamie likes this
  2. companioncube76 reblogged this from usnatarchives
  3. bitterprincipality likes this
  4. dazeddandconfusedd reblogged this from allboutlisa
  5. allboutlisa reblogged this from likeghosts
  6. kiss-for-a-dime reblogged this from likeghosts
  7. digitalalchemi reblogged this from smartchickscommune
  8. melvillemifunemtumekonigsberg likes this
  9. likeghosts reblogged this from smartchickscommune
  10. room42 likes this
  11. smartchickscommune reblogged this from usnatarchives
  12. congressarchives likes this
  13. ashelam reblogged this from todaysdocument
  14. ashelam likes this
  15. ambermahoney likes this
  16. der-rosengarten reblogged this from seaghdhasuil
  17. vinedragonheartstring reblogged this from todaysdocument
  18. seaghdhasuil reblogged this from 21st-century-time-traveller
  19. lokisasylum likes this
  20. little-teresa likes this
  21. ljupkaiv likes this
  22. theredshoes reblogged this from todaysdocument and added:
    YAY MUSEUMS
  23. theredshoes likes this
  24. duke6644 reblogged this from todaysdocument
  25. jpgr09 likes this
  26. reachinghumanity likes this
  27. celluloidtears likes this
  28. retroadventures likes this
  29. andreabitely reblogged this from todaysdocument
  30. tamsynromaine likes this
  31. earl-grey-girl likes this
  32. speakinginprint reblogged this from todaysdocument
  33. speakinginprint likes this
  34. rainbowsandscholarship likes this
  35. hernonite likes this
  36. alisonhpaisley reblogged this from todaysdocument
  37. elizajeanb likes this
  38. 21st-century-time-traveller reblogged this from todaysdocument
  39. 21st-century-time-traveller likes this
  40. irishphantom reblogged this from usnatarchives
  41. ashleybbarnes reblogged this from todaysdocument
  42. perryface reblogged this from todaysdocument
  43. madzattacks reblogged this from todaysdocument
  44. timetogooutside reblogged this from todaysdocument
  45. lion-blood likes this
  46. colleenkmichaels likes this
  47. karmasabxtch reblogged this from todaysdocument
  48. karmasabxtch likes this
  49. klemrock likes this
  50. javert likes this
  51. Show more notesLoading...
← Previous • Next →

Portrait/Logo

About

News and current events from the United States National Archives and Records Administration (www.archives.gov). Our holdings include the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, military records, Presidential records, and millions of other documents related to the Federal Government. Come visit our museums, research facilities, and Presidential Libraries across the United States!

Pages

  • Policies

Connect

  • Facebook Profile
  • USNationalArchives on Youtube
  • USNationalArchives on Flickr
  • USNatArchives on Foursquare

Things We Like

  • Photo via congressarchives

    usnatarchives:

    Tonight at 7 pm! Join us live or watch on Ustream as former members of Congress discuss how the White House and Congress can...

    Photo via congressarchives
  • Photo via usnatarchivesexhibits

    ASSORTMENT OF SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS FOR SALE AT A FLEA MARKET IN WHITE CLOUD, KANSAS, NEAR TROY. IT IS SPONSORED BY THE MA HUSH KA (WHITE CLOUD)...

    Photo via usnatarchivesexhibits
  • Photo via aotus

    Open Government Appreciations

    This week the American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP) honored the National Archives with its two highest...

    Photo via aotus
  • Photo via americasgreatoutdoors

    There are some sights that are just too beautiful for words. Like the view from Glacier Point overlooking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

    ...

    Photo via americasgreatoutdoors
See more →
  • RSS
  • Random
  • Archive
  • Ask
  • Mobile

For the official source of information about the US National Archives, please visit our homepage at www.Archives.gov.

Effector Theme by Pixel Union