Look up at the Grand Hall dome of The Smithsonian Institution “Castle” Building. Designed by architect James Renwick, Jr. in the Norman style, the Castle is constructed of red sandstone and was completed in 1855. The first Smithsonian building, it housed all aspects of Smithsonian operations until 1881, including research and administrative offices, lecture and exhibit halls, a library and reading room, chemical laboratories. specimen collections, and living quarters for the Secretary, his family, and visiting scientists.

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