Arts + Industries Building (Washington, D.C.)

 museum, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, 1879_construction, Renaissance Revival (architecture), U.S. National Historic Landmark

www.si.edu/ai/
The Arts and Industries Building has a special role among Smithsonian buildings—as the original home of the National Museum. Designed in a High Victorian style by the Washington architectural firm of Cluss and Schulze, it opened in 1881 in time for the inaugural ball of President James A. Garfield. The building's exhibition halls are currently closed in preparation for renovation. After the opening of the History and Technology Building (Now the National Museum of American History) this building was designated the Arts and Industries Buildings. Many of the first exhibits for the National Air and Space Museum were displayed here before NASM was opened in 1976. For the American Bicentennial, a recreation of the 1876 Centennial World's Fair from Philiadelphia was on display through the reminder of the 1970's.