Old Patent Office Building facts for kids
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Old Patent Office
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The Old Patent Office in 2011
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| Location | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Built | 1836–1867 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Visitation | 1.3 million (2017) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000902 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 12, 1965 |
The Old Patent Office Building is a famous historic building in Washington, D.C.. It takes up a whole city block between F and G Streets and 7th and 9th Streets NW. Since the 1960s, it has been an art gallery for the Smithsonian Institution.
This building was first used by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It was built between 1836 and 1867 in the Greek Revival style. Over time, many different U.S. government offices used the building. Today, it is home to two Smithsonian museums: the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
Contents
History of the Old Patent Office Building
19th Century History
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The Old Patent Office Building was designed by architect Robert Mills. He used the Greek Revival style, which looks like ancient Greek temples. Construction began in 1836 and took 31 years to finish.
The building was needed because U.S. patent law required inventors to send small models of their inventions. These models needed a place to be stored and displayed.
The spot for the building was chosen by Pierre L'Enfant. He was the person who planned the capital city. He wanted a grand building there, halfway between the Capitol and the President's House.
Mills made sure the building was fireproof. He used strong masonry arches inside instead of wooden beams. Large skylights and open courtyards helped fill the rooms with natural light.
Mills was removed from the project in 1851. Construction continued under Thomas U. Walter. The building was finally completed in 1865.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office
The Patent Office started in 1834. It moved into this building in 1842. From 1854 to 1857, Clara Barton worked here. She was a clerk for the Patent Commissioner. She was one of the first women in the federal government to earn equal pay.
In 1865, a fire damaged the building's west wing. It destroyed about 87,000 patent models. The building was later repaired by Adolf Cluss between 1877 and 1885.
The Civil War and the Building
During the Civil War, the building was used for different purposes. It became military barracks, a hospital, and even a morgue. Wounded soldiers rested on beds in the galleries. These rooms also held glass cases with invention models.
The famous American poet Walt Whitman often visited the building. He would read to the wounded soldiers there. In 1865, the building was chosen for President Lincoln's Second Inaugural Ball. Whitman also worked in the building for a few months in 1865.
20th Century History
The Patent Office stayed in the building until 1932. After that, the Civil Service Commission used it. In 1953, there was a plan to tear down the building to make a parking lot. But President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law in 1958. This law gave the building to the Smithsonian. This was a big win for people who wanted to save historic buildings.
Renovations began in 1964 to turn the inside into museum space. In 1965, the building was named a National Historic Landmark.
Museums Open: American Art and Portrait Gallery
The National Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery opened in January 1968. The art museum was in the north wing. The portrait gallery was in the south wing. The central courtyard had outdoor seating and large trees.
By 1995, the building was in bad shape. The roof leaked, and plaster was falling from the ceilings. Window frames were rotting, and the outside walls were crumbling.
21st Century Renovations
Major Renovation Project
The building closed in 2000 for much-needed repairs. It reopened on July 1, 2006. It was renamed The Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. This was to honor a large gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The building now holds the collections of the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
The renovation was planned to take two years and cost $42 million. However, the cost grew much higher. It eventually reached over $280 million. Many groups and people donated money to help.
The renovation brought back the building's original beauty. This included the grand porticos, curving staircases, and large windows. Workers used new methods to fix and reuse old materials.
During the renovation, there was a debate about how to share the space between the two museums. They decided to give space based on what fit best. For example, large modern art pieces went to the third floor with high ceilings.
A big part of the renovation was adding a glass roof to the open courtyard. This idea caused a lot of discussion. Many historic preservation groups were against it. They worried it would change the building's look too much.
The design for the glass roof changed several times. Architects like Foster and Partners worked on it. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) had to approve the plans. They voted against it at first, which stopped work on the courtyard.
The Smithsonian kept trying to get the glass roof approved. They presented new designs. Finally, in September 2005, the NCPC approved a design for the waving glass canopy. This design kept the eight steel columns and nighttime lighting.
In October 2005, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation gave another large gift. This helped finish the renovation and the glass canopy. The entire complex was named the "Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture." Other parts of the building were also named after important donors.
Reopening and Recognition
The National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum officially reopened on July 1, 2006. The total cost of the renovation was $283 million.
In 2007, a critic named Philip Kennicott praised the new courtyard. He said the glass canopy made the building look even better. He also loved the courtyard's landscaping and water features.
In 2008, Condé Nast Traveler magazine called the building one of the "new seven wonders of the architecture world."
See also
- Architecture of Washington, D.C.
- Patent Office 1836 fire
- Patent Office 1877 fire
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
