When: closing January 6, 2019
The building that currently houses the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum was originally the Patent Office. It also was the site of Lincoln's second Inaugural Ball. For the past 50 years, it has been the home of portraits and American art, as part of the Smithsonian. This small display celebrates the anniversary of its re-opening.
The building was originally slated to be turned into a parking lot; thanks are due to President Eisenhower for signing legislation to give it to the Smithsonian instead. It housed the National Portrait Gallery and what was then called the National Collection of Fine Arts.
The display includes many artifacts from the re-opening ceremony; the photo is of a poster designed by Claes Oldenburg. Am I the only one who sees what's going on with that? An interesting choice for a publicly-funded organization to make, but this was the swinging '60s, so perhaps that explains it?
The notes also make mention of the fact that the surrounding neighborhood has experienced ups and downs over the years, and I can attest to the truth of that statement. I can well remember when that part of town was full of seedy wig shops, and people hurried home after work, so as not to be there after dark. Now, it's a vibrant part of the city, with shops (none of which sell wigs), restaurants, the Capital One Arena and lots of new office buildings. I work just a block away from the museum, and I never feel uncomfortable walking around, even at night.
Verdict: If you have any interest in DC history or the history of the Smithsonian, this is a very interesting show.
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