Museum showcasing architecture, engineering, design, and construction
The National Building Museum examines the built environment and how it impacts our lives. Although the museum building is space large, it typically has less than ten exhibits on display at any time. The building, modeled after the Roman Palazzo Farnese, is a departure from the typical style of federal buildings, and is the highlight of this adventure.
The museum is housed in the historic U.S. Pension Bureau building. After the Civil War, the number of veterans arriving in DC seeking their pensions and other benefits greatly increased. Therefore a new building was constructed to house the staff and paperwork required to process these claims. Although there were mixed reviews about the building’s beauty when it first opened, it has been used as the site of Inaugural Balls since even before construction was complete. A temporary roof was added in 1885 so Grover Cleveland could celebrate his first Presidential victory. The Presidential Seal was installed in the floor not long after the building opened.
Although the government attempted to use the building for office space after the Pension Bureau was dissolved, it was not well-suited for a modern-day workplace. (The photos of the time they attempted to install a drop ceiling around the columns are horrifying.) Instead demolishing the building, Congress created the National Building Museum. The building itself provides a lesson in architecture, though not designed for this purpose. The Corinthian Columns steal the show, but all three Greek column types are on display. Ionic columns (with scrolls at the top) line the second floor, and Doric columns (with plain tops) line the first floor. Free tours of the building are given several times each day and I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary.
If you don’t time your visit to coincide with the scheduled tours, you can pick up a self-guided tour brochure at the information desks. This will cover most of the highlights, but only adventurers on guided tours are allowed to visit the fourth floor. The stairwells are designed with the disabled soldiers in mind; they are deep enough to accommodate a wheelchair or walker and have short, angled risers. While ascending the stairs, adventurers have the opportunity to check out a sample of the frieze used on the building’s exterior. The total exterior frieze spans 1,200 feet, but 28 different scenes were reused and slightly modified to create the impression of a continuous parade at a cost-effective price.
Although the National Building Museum is quite popular, I personally find the free tour to be the best feature of this museum. I don’t normally do much research before an adventure, but I recommend adventurers who aren’t architecture enthusiasts check out the list of exhibits to make sure the current line-up appeals to you before planning your visit. I really want to like this museum, but each time I’ve paid the admission fee, I leave feeling a bit disappointed. Knowing admission fees all go towards supporting the exhibits and educational initiatives helps offset that feeling.
The National Building Museum regularly rotates their exhibits, so if the current line-up doesn’t interest you, check back in a few months. During the summer, a large-scale, interactive installation is constructed and complemented with music, food, and other activities. This summer will feature “Hive,” constructed with a series of reflective tubes designed to alter light, sound, and scale.
Like this adventure? Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates with the latest adventures on the blog, ideas for things to do in DC, and tips for exploring the District.
Address
401 F Street NW
Metro Station
- Judiciary Square (RD)
- Gallery Place-Chinatown (RD, GR, YL)
- Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter (GR, YL)
Accessibility
The wheelchair accessible entrance for the National Building Museum is on G Street NW. For after-hours programs, use 4th Street entrance. Once inside, there are two elevators that take visitors to each floor. Loaner wheelchairs are available at the Information Desk. Disabled individuals with a Personal Care Attendant can request free admission for their PCA.
Cost
$10.00
Free historic building tours
Hours
Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Historic building tours daily at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm
Length of Adventure
1-2 hours
