Hear ye, hear ye! The Smithsonian’s “Castle” is closing.
Not for good, though—don’t worry. The Smithsonian Institution Building, a.k.a. the Castle, is closing for a much-needed renovation on February 1. The repairs and upgrades to the 1850s building—the Smithsonian’s first home—will be the most substantial in five decades, with elements across the structure getting a top to bottom refresh.
Designed by James Renwick Jr. and completed in 1855, the National Historic Landmark–listed property houses the Smithsonian’s Visitor Center, a gift shop, cafe, an a small survey display of items from the collection, while the nonpublic spaces largely serve as the Institution’s administrative headquarters. While
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