Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)

The Smithsonian Institution Building, commonly called 'The Castle,' was designed by James Renwick Jr. and completed in 1855 as the original headquarters of the Smithsonian Institution. It originally housed the Institution’s offices, museum collections, and the first public exhibition spaces. The building continues to serve as the Smithsonian’s administrative center and the Information Center for visitors to the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. Its Gothic Revival architecture and foundational role make it the Institution’s singular founding structure in Washington.