Sited prominently on the National Mall, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is housed in a 1964 McKim, Mead & White building — the final project by that storied firm. Over the decades, the museum deteriorated and exhibits became disorganized, prompting the Smithsonian to undertake an ambitious renewal program.
SOM devised a plan that included modernizing the building, bringing natural light into previously dark spaces, and completely reorganizing visitor pathways around an open core. The design team added a five-story atrium that is surrounded by artifacts culled from the museum’s entire collection. Other new elements include a grand staircase, a welcome center, additional galleries, and an environmentally controlled chamber to protect the Star-Spangled Banner. The full renovation effectively created a new building within a historic shell.
![Slide 1 of 8,](https://www.som.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/22257/smithsonian_1400x800_eduardhueber_archphoto_02jpg-1366x780-c.jpg)
![Slide 2 of 8,](https://www.som.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/22255/smithsonian_1400x800_eduardhueber_archphoto_01jpg-1366x780-c.jpg)
![Slide 3 of 8,](https://www.som.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/22259/smithsonian_1400x800_eduardhueber_archphoto_03jpg-1366x780-c.jpg)
![Slide 4 of 8,](https://www.som.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/22261/smithsonian_700x800_eduardhueber_archphoto_08new-683x780-c.jpg)
![Slide 5 of 8,](https://www.som.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/22263/smithsonian_1400x800_eduardhueber_archphoto_05jpg-1366x780-c.jpg)
![Slide 6 of 8,](https://www.som.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/22265/smithsonian_1400x800_eduardhueber_archphoto_06jpg-1366x780-c.jpg)
![Slide 7 of 8,](https://www.som.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/22267/smithsonian_700x800_eduardhueber_archphoto_08jpg-683x780-c.jpg)
![Slide 8 of 8, Smithsonian National Museum of American History Renovation](https://www.som.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/56816/NFN_000810_N103_large-1631080762-scaled-1366x546-c.jpg)