Lower Invertebrates Exhibit in West Wing, Smithsonian Institution Building

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Object Details

Author

Unknown

Subject

Smithsonian Institution Building West Wing

Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.)

Tennessee Centennial Exposition

Notes

The original negative number is 17381, but that negative has been lost. See "The Castle" pg. 110-111

Summary

Lower Invertebrates exhibit in the West Wing of the Smithsonian Institution Building or "Castle." Models of a giant squid and an octopus, designed for the Tennessee Exposition of 1897, hang from the ceiling over the exhibit cases. These painted plaster casts were considered art objects, not scientific specimens, by the head curator of the Department of Biology, but large specimens were difficult to preserve and display.

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 41, Folder 19, and Box 31A, Folder 29

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

c. 1901

Standard number

2002-10680

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Type

Photographic print

Exhibit

Physical description

Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Exhibit; Medium: Photographic print

Data Source

Smithsonian Archives - History Div

Topic

Giant squids

Octopus

Exhibitions

Biology

Models and modelmaking

Art objects

Metadata Usage

Usage conditions apply

Record ID

siris_sic_9715