11 Most Endangered

Arts & Industries Building of Smithsonian Institution

Year Listed: 2006
Location: Washington , District of Columbia
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Deterioration, Neglect

Latest News

Smithsonian Secretary Clough has indicated that Arts and Industries will be retained and reused by the Smithsonian Institution and is a top priority for renovation. $25 million from the recent stimulus bill will be applied to much-needed upgrades.

The Arts and Industries Building has been empty for two years.

Significance

Originally known as the National Museum and erected to house the collections of the 1876 Centennial Exposition, the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building was the very first Smithsonian museum on the National Mall and functioned as the Smithsonian's only museum until the completion of the National Museum of Natural History in 1910. The Arts and Industries Building is generally considered the masterpiece of architect Adolf Cluss, who designed more than 70 buildings in Washington during his prolific career.

Updates

The historic building was closed in 2004 and remains closed indefinitely. The Arts and Industries Building suffers from neglect, a deteriorating roof, and other infrastructure problems. There is no clearly defined plan for its future use. Until that plan is developed and implemented, the Arts and Industries Building - a structure that was once dedicated to showcasing the nation's historical treasures and is a historical and architectural treasure in its own right - languishes in an underutilized and deteriorating state.