For Immediate Release: October 22, 2009

Remembering our Veterans at the National Building Museum

The National Building Museum offers a concert with the Navy Band, family activities, and special tours of its facility in honor of Veterans Day on Sunday, November 8

WASHINGTON, DC—The National Building Museum has a long history with veterans. Built in the 1880s as an office for the U.S. Pension Bureau, architect Montgomery C. Meigs designed this spectacular building with the soldiers in mind. The National Building Museum invites you to join us on Sunday, November 8 to honor veterans past and present. Bring the family, a blanket, and picnic (food can be purchased in the café) in the Museum's Great Hall, while listening to a free, noon-time performance by the United States Navy Band Cruisers. This contemporary music ensemble, takes its name from the Navy's versatile ship—the Cruiser—and the members live up to their namesake by presenting a variety of music.

Visitors can also take special tours and learn about the history of the Pension Building, including architectural features designed to honor the brave fighters of the Civil War and to accommodate the wounded veterans who frequented the building to collect their pensions. These special historic building tours will be offered for free at 11:30, 1:30, 2:00, 3:00, and 3:30 pm. Fascinating and fun, the tours will focus on aspects of the Museum's historic home that are especially relevant on Veterans Day, such as:

• The 1,200-foot-long terra cotta frieze along the building's exterior, which depicts Union infantry, cavalry, artillery, navy, quartermaster, and medical units.
• Special consideration had to be made to prevent fire and protect the soldiers' records in the "New Pension Office," which led to Meigs' decision to construct the building out of bricks—15,500,000 in total.
• The stairs between the first three floors of the building were constructed especially wide and low to accommodate wounded soldiers on crutches.

From 1:00 to 3:00 pm, families can celebrate the Museum's architecture as a historic site by experimenting with terra cotta, the material featured in the Museum's frieze and on the bases of its famous Corinthian columns. Participants will use molds to make their own terra cotta frieze to take home and bake. Terrific Terra Cotta is free for members, $5 for non-members. All programs are drop-in, no registration required.

For more information, please contact Sara Kabakoff at (202) 272-2448 x3201 or skabakoff@nbm.org.

The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and planning. Chartered by Congress in 1980 and open to the public since 1985, the Museum has become a vital forum for exchanging ideas and information about the built environment through its exhibitions, education programs, and publications. The Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission is free. Museum Shop. Café. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org.