Imagine over 15 million bricks. That’s what it took to build the National Building Museum. It was sometimes called Meigs Old Red Barn. Legend says Meigs himself counted every brick.
The National Building Museum is more than just a building. It is America’s leading cultural institution. It is devoted to the history of the built environment. Here, we tell the stories of architecture, engineering, and design.
Completed in 1887, this magnificent structure first served as the Pension Building. It housed the United States Pension Bureau. Later, it hosted presidential inaugural balls. The architect, Montgomery C. Meigs, designed it in the Renaissance Revival style.
After the Civil War, Congress expanded pension coverage for veterans and their families. The Pension Bureau needed a new, large space. Meigs designed a building to maximize air circulation before modern ventilation. All offices had exterior windows that opened to the court. The court design allowed cool air in and hot air out.
Notice the frieze sculpted by Caspar Buberl. Because of budget constraints, Buberl created 28 different scenes. These were mixed and modified to create a 1200-foot parade of over 1300 figures. Look closely to see the repeated figures. Meigs insisted that a Black teamster be included in the quartermaster panel. He wanted this figure to be a freed plantation slave. The teamster is in a central position over the west entrance.
Inside the National Building Museum, the Great Hall is truly impressive. Colossal 75-foot tall Corinthian columns rise to the ceiling. The vast interior has been used for many events including inaugural balls. A Presidential Seal is set into the floor near the south entrance.
Not everyone appreciated the building initially. Philip Sheridan reportedly said it was too bad the damn thing is fireproof. Journalist Benjamin Perley Poore called it a hideous architectural monstrosity.
By the 1960s, the building had fallen into disrepair. Some considered demolishing it. Conservationists pushed for its preservation. In 1967, a report suggested turning it into a museum. In 1980, Congress established the National Building Museum. The building was formally renamed in 1997.
The National Building Museum hosts annual events and programs. The Christmas in Washington program was filmed here for many years. The museum shop is award-winning, offering books, housewares, and educational toys.
Hillary Clinton suspended her 2008 presidential campaign here. She declared that if we can blast fifty women into space, we will someday launch a woman into the White House.
The National Building Museum continues to inspire. It welcomes visitors to explore the world of building and design. It stands as a testament to architectural innovation and historical preservation.