This is the very first Smithsonian Museum building, known as “The Castle,” and it was built in 1855. The founders of the Smithsonian lay a foundation for the 21 museums that make up the US national heritage that exists in Washington D.C. today. There are photos here of the surrounding gardens, built by people who hoped that future generations would enjoy the fruits of their endeavors. For instance, there is an urn by architect Andrew Jackson Downing in 1850 (he designed the original mall), and images of the Enid A Haupt flowerbeds outside the Smithsonian Castle.
