National Building Museum

This brick structure was erected between 1882 and 1887 as the U. S. Pension Bureau and as a memorial to Union soldiers.  The architect was General Meigs (Civil War) who was also Quartermaster General of the U. S. Army under President Lincoln.  He wanted a building that promoted a healthy work environment so he designed an air flor plan that allowed fresh air to enter through a gap in the bricks beneath each window.

The 3 missing bricks under each window are visible in this photo. 

In the photos below you can see the 75 foot high columns.  Each one contains over 70,000 bricks and they are covered in plaster and painted to look like marble.  This Great Hall has hosted many Inaugural Balls, and while we were there you can see the Craft Fair going on in one of the photos below. 

Renwick Gallery

The gallery is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museums and it focuses on American crafts and decorative works.  Only a block from the White House, it was formerly the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and is listed as a National Historic Landmark.  Referred to as the "American Louvre" by some, it was built in 1859.

This creation of Ginny Ruffner and Grant Kirkpatrick required guests to grab an ipad and hold it over what appeared to be a tree stump.  Once engaged a 3D image of a plant would "grow" …. Each stump in the room held a different image. 

Michael Sherrill's pottery masterpieces.....

A Reassembled Temple

Brought from Burning Man, this Temple is not permanent, and when removed it will be burned.... 

What appeared to be a quilt, was actually images from film placed together to look that way..... 

Household objects artfully joined to create the sailfish below...… so clever! 

Chihuly chandelier in the museum......