Page 76 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

74  W ASHINGT ON , DC AREA B Y AREA

Outside the castle is the
Smithsonian rose garden,
filled with beautiful hybrid
tea roses. The garden was
a later addition that now
connects the Castle to the
equally ornate Arts and
Industries Building (see p68).

9 Arthur M. Sackler
Gallery
1050 Independence Ave, SW.
Map 3 C4. Tel 633-1000.
q Smith sonian. Open 10am–5:30pm
daily. Closed Dec 25. 8 12:15pm.
7 = d ∑ asia.si.edu
Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, a New York
physician, started collecting
Asian art in the 1950s. In 1982,
he donated more than 1,000
The elegant Victorian facade of the Smithsonian Castle, viewed from the Mall artifacts, along with $4 million
in funds, to the Smith sonian
8 Smithsonian (see p115) and St Patrick’s Institution to establish this
Castle Cathedral in New York. It is an museum. The Japanese and
outstanding example of the Korean govern ments also
1000 Jefferson Drive, SW. Map 3 C4. Gothic Revival style. Inspired contributed $1 million each
Tel 633-1000. q Smithsonian. also by 12th-century Norman toward the cost of constructing
Open 8:30am–5:30pm daily. architecture, the Castle has the building, and the museum
Closed Dec 25. 8 7 = ∑ si.edu
|nine towers and an elaborate was completed in 1987.
This ornate Victorian cornice. Today it is the seat of The entrance is a small pavilion
edifice served as the Smithsonian admin- at ground level that leads down
the first home of the istration and houses to two sub terranean floors of
Smithsonian Institution, its Information Center. exhibits. The Sackler’s 3,000-piece
and was also home to Visitors can visit the collection is particularly rich in
the first Secretary of the Crypt Room and see the Chinese works, and highlights
Smithsonian, Joseph tomb of James Smithson, include a stunning display of
Henry, and his family. who bequeathed his Chinese bronzes and jades, some
A statue of Henry fortune to the United dating back to 4000 BC. There
stands in front of States. The South are also 7th-century ceramics
the building. The tomb of Tower Room was the from the Ming dynasty and an
Constructed of red James Smithson first children’s room in extensive range of sculpture
sandstone in 1855, the a Washington museum. from India and southeast Asia.
Castle was designed by The ceiling and colorful wall Over the years the gallery has
James Renwick, architect stencils that decorate the room built on Arthur Sackler’s original
of the Renwick Gallery were restored in 1987. collection. In 1987 it acquired the
James Smithson (1765–1829)
Although he never once visited the United States, James Smithson,
English scientist and philanthropist, and illegitimate son of the
first Duke of Northumberland, left his entire fortune of half a
million dollars to “found at Washington, under the name of the
Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and
diffusion of knowledge among men.” However, this was only if
his nephew and heir were to die childless. This did happen and
hence, in 1836, Smithson’s fortune passed to the government
of the United States, which did not quite know what to do with
such a vast bequest. For 11 years Congress debated various
proposals, finally agreeing to set up a government-run
foundation that would administer all national museums.
The first Smithson-funded collection was shown at the
Smithsonian Castle in 1855. James Smithson

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