The Smithsonian Institute

The original home of the Smithsonian Institute was built by architect James Renwick, Jr. The Romanesque style building, referred to as the “Castle”, is located on the National Mall in Washington and was commissioned in 1846. The structure was built with red sandstone from Seneca, Maryland. Although the Smithsonian continues to occupy the Renwick building, the Institute has grown to 19 museums, 9 research facilities, and the National Zoo. The Smithsonian is currently the largest museum and research complex in the world. The Smithsonian Institute was established by a trust from James Smithson, a British scientist, for the “increase and diffusion of knowledge” through an institution in Washington D.C.