Smithsonian Institution Building

Built in 1855, this beautiful building serves as headquarters for the Smithsonian Institution.

It earned its nickname (The Castle) righteously; the astounding Gothic and Romanesque architecture truly do remind everybody of historic European castles and churches. Today it mostly consists of administrative offices for the other museums, but it is also a central visitor centre, where you can observe interactive maps and displays, explaining the history of Smithsonian and its research. There is also the tomb of James Smithson, the founding donor of this institute.

There are audio descriptions incorporated into some of the exhibits, videos with captions, and the whole object is wheelchair accessible. There is no private parking space in this area, so you need to park in the streets. The complex is accessible from the Smithsonian subway station.