National Building Museum

The National Building Museum is an architecture and construction museum in Judiciary Square, Washington, D.C. Its brick structure features a large central courtyard surrounded by Corinthian columns that rise approximately 75 feet (23 meters) and support galleries above.

The building was completed in 1887 as the Pension Bureau and administered retirement payments for Civil War veterans. After decades of government use, it opened as an architecture museum in 1980.

The name recalls its original government function, while the galleries now display rotating installations by contemporary architects. Visitors often see models and photographs that explain how American cities were built.

The museum sits at 401 F Street Northwest, a short walk from the Judiciary Square Metro station. Opening hours begin in the morning and continue throughout the day, seven days a week.

The exterior walls carry a continuous frieze about 1,200 feet (370 meters) long depicting Civil War military scenes, designed by sculptor Caspar Buberl. The relief runs around the entire building and shows soldiers in different moments of wartime life.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1980

Architects: Montgomery C. Meigs

Architectural style: Art Nouveau architecture

Made from material: brick

Address: 401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Opening Hours: Maandag-Zaterdag 10:00-17:00; Zondag 11:00-17:00

Phone: +12022722448

Website: https://nbm.org

GPS coordinates: 38.89750,-77.01806

Latest update: December 12, 2025 01:20