National Museum of Natural History
Item
Title
National Museum of Natural History
Description
First known as the new National Museum, the National Museum of Natural History's building opened in 1910 after nearly 10 years of construction. The Museum's Beaux Arts design features a domed rotunda, columns, and a portico. The Museum first housed art, culture, history, geology, and natural history collections until the 1960s when the Museum of Natural History became a separate museum. Today, it is one of the most visited museums in the world, and displays such diverse objects as the Hope Diamond, a complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, and a live butterfly collection.
Creator
Joseph Coerten Hornblower
James Rush Marshall
Daniel Burnham
Charles McKim
Date
1846 (Founded)
1910 (Building opened)
Coverage
1890-1919
Source
Smithsonian Institution Archives. View original.