34 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1955 



A special exhibition, "History Under the Sea," was installed in 

 the foyer of the Natural History Building where it was displayed 

 from July 20 to August 20, and subsequently for about three months 

 in the rotunda of the Arts and Industries Building. 



Seventy-six double frames in the philatelic exhibit cases were 

 utilized for display of an exceptionally complete series of United 

 States revenue stamps which were transferred by the Internal Rev- 

 enue Service. The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, 

 T. Coleman Andrews, made the presentation to Dr. Leonard Car- 

 michael, Secretary of the SmitLsonian Institution, on Octover 12, 

 1954. 



VISITORS 



During the fiscal year 1955 there were 3,312,870 visitors to the 

 Museum buildings, an increase of 50,730 over the attendance in 1954. 

 The average daily number of visitors was 9,668. Included in this 

 total are 288,195 school children, who arrived in 7,316 separate groups. 

 April 1955 was the month, of the largest attendance with 482,058 

 visitors; May 1955 was the next largest with 474,485; and August 

 1954 was the third with 417,807. On one day. May 7, 1955, 55,096 

 visitors were recorded. Attendance records for the buildings show 

 the following number of visitors: Smithsonian Building 665,261; 

 Arts and Industries Building, 1,742,317; and Natural History Build- 

 ing 905,292. 



BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT 



On June 28, 1955, the President of the United Staters approved the 

 Act of Congress which authorizes and directs the Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution to plan and construct a suitable building for 

 a Museum of History and Technology at a cost not to exceed $36,000,- 

 000. It is a gratifying recognition of the value of the collections and 

 exhibits which the staff have developed over the years. When com- 

 pleted, adequate facilities will make possible the long-contemplated 

 effective presentation of objects in these fields. 



The outward appearance of the Arts and Industries Building was 

 materially improved by the installation of stainless steel doors, tran- 

 som, and finished framing at the north entrance. The outmoded 

 doorway was divided into three passageways which not only imparted 

 a somewhat unsightly aspect but also hampered the inflow and exit 

 of visitors. In continuation of the renovation program, the north, 

 east, and south halls in the Arts and Industries Building were painted 

 for the first time in many years. 



CHANGES IN ORGANIZATION AND STAFF 



Dr. Thomas E. Bowman was appointed assistant curator in the 

 division of marine vertebrates on August 2, 1954. 



