REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1919. 



27 



was later doubled. Waiving the condition as to the time of transfer 

 of the collections, Mi". Freer, in 1915, decided upon the early erection 

 of the building, and the structure now nearing completion is the 

 result of much care and attention on his part and on that of the 

 architect, Mr. Charles A. Piatt, being especially designed for the 

 convenience of students and others desirous of an opportunity for 

 uninterrupted study of the collections. 



VISITORS. 



Owing to the occupancy of the exhibition halls of the Natural His- 

 tory Building by the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, this building 

 was closed to the public from July 16, 1918, to April 11, 1919. Dur- 

 ing the approximate three months that the building was open the 

 attendance of visitors was 94,240 for week days and 38,619 for Sun- 

 days, making an average of 1,149 for week days and 2,758 for Sun- 

 days. From November 10 to April 6 the opening of the Arts and 

 Industries Building was extended to include Sundays as well as 

 week days, the number of visitors for the year being 225,927 on week 

 days and 40,605 on Sundays, a daily average of 721 for the former 

 and 1,845 for the latter. At the Smithsonian Building, which is 

 open only on week days, the total attendance was 101,504, with a 

 daily average of 324. 



In view of the excellent Sunday attendance at the Arts and Indus- 

 tries Building during the short period that it was opened on that day, 

 it seems highly desirable that both Museum buildings should be 

 open every Sunday. This will only be possible when additional 

 funds are provided to cover the extra watchmen and other attendants 

 required. 



The following tables show the attendance of visitors each month 

 of the past year and for each year since 1881, when the building 

 now devoted to the arts and industries was first opened to the public : 



Number of visitors during the year ending June 30, 1919. 



Year and month. 



1918, 



July 



August 



September. 



October 



November. 

 December. . 



Museum buildings. 



Arts and 

 Indus- 

 tries. 



17,323 

 19, 151 

 19,776 

 15,3.39 

 20, 805 

 26, 721 



Natural 

 History. 



19,262 



Smithso- 

 nian 

 Building. 



8,419 

 9,485 

 9,754 

 5,633 

 8,468 

 9,375 



Year and month. 



1919. 



January 



February. .. 



March 



April 



May 



June 



Total . 



Museum buildings. 



Arts and 

 Indus- 

 tries. 



24, 393 

 24,147 

 31,451 

 23, 060 

 19,511 

 24,855 



266,532 



Natural 

 History. 



29, 404 

 40, 619 

 43,574 



132, 859 



Smithso- 

 nian 

 Building. 



8,170 

 8,067 

 9,666 

 9,166 

 7,155 

 8,146 



101,504 



