Page 107 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

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audacious former Pension there was a move to demolish
Bureau building. Civil War Meigs’ building. Instead it was
General Montgomery C. Meigs occupied by various government
saw Michelangelo’s Palazzo agencies for a time and was even
Farnese on a trip to Rome and used as a courthouse.
decided to duplicate it as a The building was eventually
Washington office building, restored, and in 1985 opened
albeit twice as big and in red in renewed splendor as the
brick as opposed to the stone National Building Museum.
masonry of the Rome original. A privately owned collection,
Completed in 1887, the the museum has a display
building is topped by a on the architectural history
dramatic terracotta of the city – “Washington:
frieze of the Civil War Symbol and City.” It
measuring 3 ft (1 m) includes an excellent
in height. The daring illustration of Pierre
Majestic lion statue alongside a marble exterior of the building L’Enfant’s original plans
wall at the police memorial is matched by its for the capital, as well
flamboyant interior. as other photo graphs,
p National Law The vast concourse, models, and interactive
Enforcement measuring 316 ft by Ornamental plinth exhibits demonstrating
116 ft (96 m by 35 m),
how the city grew and
in the grounds of
Officers Memorial is lined with balconies the museum changed. The temp-
contain ing exhibitions. orary exhibits in
E St, NW, between 4th St & 5th St,
NW. Map 4 D3. Tel (866) 569-4928. The roof is supported by huge the museum often high light
q Judiciary Square. Visitor Center: columns, constructed of brick, controversial issues in design
605 E St, NW. Open 9am–5pm Mon– plastered, and faux-painted to and architecture. There is a
Fri, 10am–5pm Sat, noon–5pm Sun. give the appearance of marble. small café in the courtyard, and
Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, Dec 25. The Great Hall has been the a gift shop. For children under
9 7 = ∑ nleomf.org impressive venue for many six, the “Building Zone” offers
presidential balls. some hands-on fun including
Dedicated by President George In 1926 the Pension Bureau giant LEGO blocks, bulldozers,
Bush in 1991, the National Law relocated to different offices, and and a playhouse.
Enforcement Officers Memorial
honors the 18,600 police officers
who have been killed since the
first known death in 1792. Spread
over three acres in Judiciary
Square, the memo rial’s flower-
lined pathways are spectacular
in springtime. The names of
the fallen officers are inscribed
on marble walls. Each path is
guarded by a statue of an adult
lion shielding its cubs, symbolic
of the US police force’s protective
role. A full-scale museum is due
to open in 2018.
a National
Building Museum
401 F St at 4th St, NW. Map 4 D3.
Tel (202) 272-2448. q Judiciary
Square, Gallery Place-Chinatown.
Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat,
11am–5pm Sun. Closed Jan 1,
Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & 8 7
- = ∑ nbm.org
It is fitting that the National
Building Museum, dedicated
to the building trade, should
be housed in the architecturally The splendid, colonnaded Great Hall in the National Building Museum

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