The castle of Washington DC
Smithsonian Castle is the first museum of the capital, with unmatched beauty and relevance
It was the first of 79 museums in Washington DC. It is no wonder that his building is a castle, symbol of the royalty to which it belongs. Opened in 1855, the Smithsonian Castle joins the Romanesque, Norman and Gothic styles in a building that evokes the grandeur of the Smithsonian Institute, one of the largest research institutions in the world. The castle runs from 8 am to 5:30 pm at the National Mall and has free admission. Let’s go in?
Let’s start our tour through the west side of the Smithsonian Castle, called the West Wing. Being in this wing is like walking through the Middle Ages. The Gothic style makes visitors feel like walking through pre-Enlightenment Europe. It’s incredible!
Still inside, we arrive at The Commons, the area that houses the permanent exhibition American Treasures, showing visitors a little of what they can see in the other Smithsonian museums.
Close to the information area and a small cafe for visitors, Smithsonian Castle has an area that shows the life of James Smithsonian, the man who brought to life the largest museum complex in the United States and who is famous for a famous phrase about the eternal human search for knowledge.
“It was through knowledge that man found his happiness and his greatness”, said James Smithson, patron of the Smithsonian Institute.
Knowledge is the key that opens the doors of freedom, and we admire James Smithson for promoting it in the US two centuries ago! The Smithsonian museums and the entire National Mall show how history is preserved here, and we are at your disposal to show you the best that America has to offer!