Arts and Industries Building
Museum in Washington, D.C. Built 2016 by Adolf Cluss. Added to the National Register in 1971, and a National Historic Landmark.
.jpg/960px-%22How_Tall_Are_You_Exhibit%2C%22_Hall_of_Health%2C_Arts_%26_Industries_Building_(8722702443).jpg)
.jpg/960px-Arts_%26_Industries_Building%2C_National_Mall%2C_Washington_DC_(3077339060).jpg)
What it is
The Arts and Industries Building is the second oldest of the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Initially named the National Museum, it was built to provide the Smithsonian with its first proper facility for public display of its growing collections. The building, designed by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze, opened in 1881, hosting an inaugural ball for President James A. Garfield. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971. After being closed since 2004 for repair and renovation, the building reopened in 2021 with a special exhibition, Futures. In August of 2026, the Smithsonian Board of Regents voted to set the building as the permanent site of the National Museum of the American Latino.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 900 Jefferson Dr., SW., Washington, DC |
| County | District of Columbia |
| Listed | Nov 11, 1971 |
| Listed for | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | National Museum; Arts and Industries Building of the Smithson |
| Reference number | 71000994 |
| Built | 2016 |
| Architect | Adolf Cluss |
| Type of place | museum, museum building |
| Visitors per year | 0 |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, America's Most Endangered Historic Places |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 900 Jefferson Dr., SW., Washington, DC |
| Website | aib.si.edu ↗ |
| Coordinates | 38.8882° N, 77.0246° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Washington | 675 listed places in Washington → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | National Mall and Memorial Parks · under a mile · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas 3 miles · Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc) 5 miles · Greenbelt Park Ranger Station 9 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 1 record ↗
Map
Nearby in District of Columbia
Local history books for Washington
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Guidebooks to historic places in Washington, D.C.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Arts and Industries Building listed on the National Register?
Nov 11, 1971. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Arts and Industries Building built?
2016, designed by Adolf Cluss.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Arts and Industries Building?
Yes. Arts and Industries Building is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website. About 0 people visit each year.
Source: Official website
Where is Arts and Industries Building?
900 Jefferson Dr., SW., Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia. The nearest national park unit is National Mall and Memorial Parks, under a mile away.
Source: National Mall and Memorial Parks
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Arts and Industries Building?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Arts and Industries Building?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Arts and Industries Building?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas, 3 miles away. Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc) is 5 miles away, and Greenbelt Park Ranger Station is 9 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Arts and Industries Building?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 71000994. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.