Stikman Visits the Smithsonian Castle

This Stikman is in the crosswalk on Jefferson Drive between the statue of Joseph Henry and the Castle

Mary Livingston Ripley Garden

Created in 1988, the Ripley Garden is sandwiched into a narrow space between the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the old Arts and Industries building. Its easy to miss if you aren’t aware it’s there. I miss not visiting it as often as I once was able to, as it has many nice features.

The garden has a fountain and planters and you can learn the names of the plants from the labels next to them. One thing I especially like are the park benches with brackets shaped like snakes. I thought I would share a few images to give you an idea of what its like.

You can see more images after the jump

PETA’s Animal Liberation Project Display to be on Mall For Summer Season

PETA’s Animal Liberation Project display—which makes the connection between the injustices that people have suffered throughout history and the abuse and exploitation that animals suffer every day — will be on the Mall side of the Natural History building for the duration of the summer.

For District residents familiar with the cycle of protests, marches, and public awareness campaigns, this is nothing new. PETA traditionally chooses this location to get their message out.

To find out more, you can go to the PETA Web site for news, or you can go to the Animal Liberation Project page which focuses on this particular campaign.

Unrealized Dreams: Renwick’s Unsuccessful Design Submission of 1846

(Image from Smithsonian Institution)

Race for the Cure Road Closures Announced

If you intend to be on or near the mall tomorrow, you may want to be aware of the road closures or events related to the Race for the Cure that will impact the Mall tomorrow.

Starting as early as 7:30, and lasting until 11:00 a.m., the race will have a major impact on the area. You can read the entire DDOT release below, or click on the map or link below to go directly to the race Web site for more details.

Road Closures for Weekend Events

Race for the Cure and Unifest Celebration Scheduled

(Washington, D.C.) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has provided the following information about road closures for two large events scheduled this weekend: the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure and the Unifest Celebration. Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure

Lost Washington: the Army Medical Museum

The brick Romanesque Revival building originally located at the northwest corner of 7th and Independence, SW, was the successor to the Ford’s Theatre facility. Opened in 1887, it was designed and built to house the Army Medical Museum, the Library of the Surgeon General’s Office, and some of the medical records.

Army Medical Museum. Interior view. First floor west side. Hook worm display.

Between 1893 and 1910, it also housed the Army Medical School. The Museum and the Library remained in this location until the 1960s, when they were moved to their present separate locations.

Even though the structure had been listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, the Interior Department redefined its status, claiming that the collection of medical specimens within constituted the building’s importance.

Army Medical Museum. Main exhibit hall. 1942.

The building was razed in 1969 and replaced by the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

The Army Medical Museum evolved into the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Washington, D.C., and the Library of Surgeon General’s Office became the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. (Additionally Photos after the jump)

Proposed Mall Plan, ca. 1936-7

It makes sense to me that this plan dates to 1936 or 7, as the site for the National Gallery of Art building is listed as proposed, and it was completed and dedicated by 1941.The focus of this plan, however, is the proposed National Museum of Engineering and Industry. This footprint removed the Arts and Industries building, and the old Army Medical Museum, which was eventually razed to make room for the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.  The National Museum of engineering and Industry would eventually be opened as the Museum of History and Technology, which is not the Museum of American History (Image courtesy Smithsonian Institution).

Unrealized Dreams: Smithsonian Institution

Proposed design in a medieval revival style of the north facade for the Smithsonian Institution Building by Robert Mills. The design was submitted for the competition sponsored by the Building Committee of the Board of Regents, December 23, 1846 (Image and text from Smithsonian Institution).

Nonprofit Raises $1 Million for National Mall Restoration

WJLA reports that the Trust for the National Mall has raised more than $1 million in private funds at an event last night. To date, the group has raised $4.5 million in private funds for restoration efforts since its formation in late 2007.

I find this validation that the Mall is important to Americans. It is important that it be in good repair so that it can be enjoyed by the millions that visit it each year. It is important that visitors are free to focus on the beauty and reflect upon the events that are memorialized by the structures there, rather than remember sinking sea walls, muddy paths, and less than adequate infrastructure.

I was furious when money for the Mall was removed from the initial Stimulus bill because there were those on the Hill that didn’t think it was appropriate for that kind of bill … only to turn around and approve that money under another bill. If Mall restoration were to rely entirely upon the Federal Government to do the right thing, it is doubtful it would ever get done. At least with public money coming in, there is a chance that the National Park Service will finally get the support they need to do the job.

Cinco de Mayo Festival is on Sunday

The 17th annual Cinco de Mayo Festival is scheduled for this Sunday, May 3rd, at the Sylvan Theater on the National Monument, located at 15th Street at Independence Avenue, SW.

The Festival will run from Noon to 6 pm. According to the Website, where you can find more information:

“Officially, Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday, but we have turned it into a day of celebration for all Latinos living here and for all Americans who enjoy the culture,” Montero said. “Our Festival is like the Latino St. Patrick’s Day. That’s why we say, ‘On Cinco de Mayo, everybody’s Latino.”