Cape Town Lens: Washington DC: National Museum of American History – Greenough’s Washington

A Cape Town Castle Military Museum tagged image from photographer – wallyg as published on Flickr.

Washington DC: National Museum of American History – Greenough’s Washington

Image by wallyg

This 11-foot, 4-inch marble statue of George Washington was executed by Horatio Greenough in 1840. The piece was commissioned by Congress on July 14, 1832, to commemorate the centennial of Washington’s birth. It arrived from Italy on July 31, 1841 and was installed in the Capitol Rotunda in December 1841. Due to its weight and lighting concerns of the dimly lit interior, the statue was moved outdoors to the east lawn shortly after its installation, and on May 22, 1908, a joint resolution from Congress authorized its transfer to the Smithsonian Institution. It remained at the Castle until 1964, when it was moved to the new Museum of History and Technology (now the National Museum of American History).

Greenough’s sculpture depicts a seated figure of George Washington dressed in a classical robe and sandals with his right arm held up in the air and holding a sheathed sword in his left hand. He is nude from waist up. As soon as it arrived in the Capitol City, it attracted controversy and criticism. Greenough modeled his on a classical Greek statue of Zeus, but many Americans found the sight of a half-naked Washington offensive, even comical. After the statue was relocated to the east lawn, some joked that Washington was desperately reaching for his clothes, on exhibit at the Patent Office several blocks to the north.

The National Museum of American History (NMAH), administered by the Smithsonian Institute, collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. The museum, which first opened in 1964 as the Museum of History and Technology, is located on the National Mall in one of the last structures designed by McKim, Mead & White. It was renamed in 1980, and closed for a 2-year, million renovation by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP from 2006 to 2008.

The Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazines, was established in 1846. Although concentrated in Washington DC, its collection of over 136 million items is spread through 19 museums, a zoo, and nine research centers from New York to Panama.