National Museum of Natural History (Museum of Natural History, National Museum)

1904-1911, Hornblower and Marshall
1960-1964, Mills, Petticord and Mills

In the 1880's the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents resolved to expand the overcrowded Smithsonian facilities with a third building, in addition to the already existing Smithsonian Institution Building and National Museum Building (now the Arts and Industries Building). On January 30, 1903, the United States Congress appropriated funds to the Smithsonian Institution for a new museum based upon an initial study by William Henry Holmes, Curator of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution. The architectural firm Hornblower and Marshall was selected to design the building and excavation of the site began on June 30, 1903.

In 1905, during the construction of the building, Smithsonian Secretary Samuel P. Langley halted the work to alter the Hornblower and Marshall design of the central domed rotunda. After some modification, construction of the Hornblower and Marshall design for the Museum of Natural History (also called the new National Museum) recommenced.

After Secretary Langley died in 1906, Charles Doolittle Walcott oversaw the remainder of the project as the fourth Smithsonian Secretary. By August 11, 1909, the staff had begun to occupy the building with parts of the permanent collection. On March 11, 1910, the museum opened to the public, although construction of the building was not completed until June 20, 1911. The final built design included an octagonal rotunda with Doric columns on the first floor and Ionic columns on the second and third floors. Above the three floors were semi-circular clerestory windows and a Guastavino tiled dome with an oculus. Three wings extended north, east and west from the rotunda providing office space for museum staff and exhibition space for the permanent collection.

An exterior pedimented portico faced the Mall directly south of the rotunda with fluted Corinthian columns and pilasters--six columns in the first row and two columns and four pilasters in the second row. The Bureau of War Risk Insurance occupied the building from 1917 to 1919, during which time the building was closed to the public. Expansion of the original building was authorized on June 19, 1930, but funds were appropriated from Congress until May 13, 1960. The architectural firm Mills, Petticord and Mills was selected to design the east wing and the following year a west wing. By 1964 construction of both additions was completed. The wings were designed with six floors in addition to the basement and ground floor, with the second, fourth and sixth floors directly connected to the main building. The sixth floor was set back at the direction of the Commission of Fine Arts. On March 24, 1969, the newly expanded Museum of Natural History was officially renamed the National Museum of Natural History.

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