Smithsonian Arts & Industries

Built in 1879, this is the second oldest of the Smithsonian buildings on the National Mal, but is the first national museum in the U.S. It is also one of the most expansive in the U.S. with exhibits ranging from geology to zoology to art. This Renaissance Revival structure which contains almost 80,000 square feet of display space houses one of the most comprehensive collections of the 19 Smithsonian museums.