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National Register of Historic Places

Arts and Industries Building

Arts and Industries Building is a historic place in Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia, listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 1971, and designated a National Historic Landmark. Its National Register reference number is 71000994.

Washington, District of Columbia County, District of ColumbiaListed November 11, 1971NRIS #71000994★ National Historic Landmark
Photograph of Arts and Industries Building
Photo: Arts and Industries Building via Wikimedia Commons — see the file page for author and license. Image source
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Location 01

Arts and Industries Building

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About this place

What is Arts and Industries Building?

The Arts and Industries Building is the second oldest of the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Initially named the National Museum, it was built to provide the Smithsonian with its first proper facility for public display of its growing collections. The building, designed by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze, opened in 1881, hosting an inaugural ball for President James A. Garfield. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971. After being closed since 2004 for repair and renovation, the building reopened in 2021 with a special exhibition, Futures. In August of 2026, the Smithsonian Board of Regents voted to set the building as the permanent site of the National Museum of the American Latino.

Source: Wikipedia, text available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The record

Listing details

Name
Arts and Industries Building
City
Washington
County
District of Columbia County
State
District of Columbia
Listed on the National Register
November 11, 1971
NRIS reference number
71000994
Resource type
building
National Historic Landmark
Yes
Coordinates
38.88816, -77.02455
When was Arts and Industries Building listed on the National Register?

Arts and Industries Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 1971.

Where is Arts and Industries Building located?

Arts and Industries Building is located in Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia at approximately 38.88816, -77.02455. See the map above.

Is Arts and Industries Building a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Arts and Industries Building is designated a National Historic Landmark, the highest federal recognition for a historic place.

Nearby on the register

More historic places in District of Columbia