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Downtown

The National Building Museum

The National Building Museum, at 401 F St. NW, was created in 1980 in the historic old Pension Building.  The Pension Building was constructed in 1887 to handle the increasing pension administration needed for Civil War veterans and their families. The building was designed by Montgomery C. Meigs, in the Italian Renaissance style.  The frieze […]

Categories
Downtown

Freer Gallery of Art

The Freer Gallery of Art is part of the Smithsonian, and the art and funds for the building were donated by Charles Freer.  The gallery was completed in 1921, designed by Charles Platt in the Italian Renaissance style, to reflect Freer’s visits to Italian palazzos.  The exterior is pink granite from Massachusetts.  The building is […]