United States Public Health Service Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
US Public Health Service Building
|
|
Main entrance
|
|
 Location in Central Washington, D.C.
Location in the District of Columbia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Jules Henri de Sibour; Treasury Department |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000641 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 2007 |
The United States Public Health Service Building is a cool old government building in Washington, D.C.. You might also hear it called the Federal Reserve Board - East Building. It's right next to the Eccles Building on Constitution Avenue.
This building has been home to many important groups. It was once the main office for the U.S. Public Health Service. It also housed the Combined Chiefs of Staff, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the National Science Foundation. For a long time, from 1965 to 2018, it was used by the Department of the Interior. Now, it belongs to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
Contents
A Look at the Building's Past
Early Days and First Occupants
Before this building was here, a YWCA stood on this spot. The building itself was designed in 1931 by an architect named Jules Henri de Sibour. It was built for the Public Health Service. They moved in during May 1933.
In February 1942, the Public Health Service moved out. The building was then used by the Combined Chiefs of Staff. This group was very important during World War II. They even planned parts of the Manhattan Project here. The Manhattan Project was a secret effort to build the first atomic bombs.
The Public Health Service came back to the building for a short time, from 1946 to 1947. After that, the Atomic Energy Commission took over. They stayed until 1958. From 1958 to 1965, the National Science Foundation used the building.
The Department of the Interior Years
In April 1965, the Bureau of Indian Affairs started using the building. Later, in 1977, the Office of Surface Mining joined them. Many different offices of the Department of the Interior have used this building. The main Department of the Interior building is right next door.
A very important event happened here in 1972. A group of about 500 American Indians took over the building. This was part of their "Trail of Broken Treaties" walk. They wanted to bring attention to issues facing Native Americans. They asked for new talks about treaties and better living conditions. They stayed in the building from November 3 to November 9, 1972.
The Federal Reserve Board Takes Over
In July 2018, the building was given to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Their main office, the Eccles Building, is just across the street. The building is being updated and renovated. This renovation has been watched closely because it's an example of how the government is choosing older, classic building styles over modern ones.
What the Building Looks Like
This building has three stories and looks like the letter "E" from above. It has a raised basement and a gabled roof with tiles. The outside walls on the east, south, and west sides are made of beautiful white Georgia marble. The parts of the building facing the courtyards are made of limestone.
The front of the building is very grand. It has tall, fluted columns that are part of the wall. There's a large decorative band above these columns. The main entrance has three formal doorways with triangular tops.
Inside, there are fancy spaces like a marble entrance lobby. The stairways and elevator areas also have marble. There's even a special auditorium with decorative painted designs. On the second floor, there's an important office suite with fancy wood panels.
