National Building Museum Facts
The historic Pension Building under construction between 1882 and 1887.
Collection of the National Building Museum
An exterior frieze measuring 1,200 feet long and 3 feet high wraps the building. The frieze depicts a parade of Civil War military units and was designed by Bohemian-born sculptor Caspar Buberl (1834-1889).
234 busts representing the building occupations— created to replace the missing originals—fill the niches about the center court.
President McKinley's Inaugural Ball, 1901.
|
Architect / EngineerMontgomery C. Meigs (1816-1892), Quartermaster General in charge of provisions during the Civil War Construction Dates1882-1887 Original Cost$886,614.04 Exterior Dimensions400 feet by 200 feet, 75 feet to cornice level Materials15,500,000 bricks with brick and terra cotta ornament Exterior Frieze1,200 feet long, 3 feet high, made of terra cotta. Features a continuous parade of Civil War military units designed by Caspar Buberl (1834-1899) Great Hall316 feet by 116 feet, 159 feet (approximately 15 stories) at its highest point. Corinthian Columns75 feet high, 8 feet in diameter, 25 feet in circumference. Each built with 70,000 bricks and originally painted to resemble marble in 1895 Busts234 busts designed by Gretta Bader in 1984. Arcade72 Doric-style columns on the ground floor and 72 Ionic-style columns on the second floor. Inaugural BallsFirst Inaugural Ball at the National Building Museum was held by Grover Cleveland in 1885, the tradition continues to the present day.
|
