Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building

The Arts and Industries Building opened in 1881 as one of the Smithsonian Institution's earliest purpose-built museum structures and housed national exhibitions of industry, science, and the arts. The Victorian-era red-brick and cast-iron building is noted for its ornate exterior and historic interior spaces. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has periodically closed for preservation and restoration work while remaining part of the Smithsonian complex.