This beautifully illustrated guide to the remarkable buildings of the Smithsonian Institution delves into a rarely explored aspect of the Smithsonian's history. Like the collections they house, the structures each have a richly textured story and continue to inspire architecture aficionados and visitors alike in the nation's capital and beyond.

With 200 black and white photographs, insightful anecdotes, and secrets from over a century and a half of history, A Guide to Smithsonian Architecture offers a new narrative of the Smithsonian's growth since it's founding in 1846 into what is today the world's largest museum and research complex.

The nine Smithsonian buildings on the National Mall and the six others that lie outside its boundaries represent more than the imaginings of architecture visionaries like James Renwick, Jr., Adolf Cluss, and Hornblower and Marshall; they are monuments to the changing styles and sensibilities of America as an evolving nation. The turreted Castle, the majestically domed Natural History Museum, the sky-reflecting Air and Space Museum, and the golden, undulating American Indian Museum each capture the American spirit of innovation and reflect various chapters in American history. Paperback; 176 pages; 200 black & white photos throughout

Deemed to have exceptional value to the nation, most of these structures are National Historic Landmarks or are included on the National Register of Historic Places, the official roster of our nation's historic sites. Iconic by design, the Smithsonian's buildings represent an essential component of the American landscape.