NATIONAL MUSEUM BUILDINGS. 207 



bequest to produce results has been abridged in a corresponding proportion. Besides, 

 when the l)uilding is entirely occupied, the expense of warming, attendance, etc., 

 must necessarily be much increased beyond its present amount. The repairs, on 

 account of the peculiar style of architecture adopted, will ever be a heavy item of 

 expenditure. The several pinnacles, buttresses, and intersecting roofs all afford 

 points of peculiar exposure to the injuries of the weather. 



1857. 



In 1857 the building- committee stated that at its last session Congress 

 had appropriated $15,000 for cases for the collections belonging to the 

 Government. These were then finished and formed a beautiful addi- 

 tion to the large hall on the first floor, being apparently well adapted 

 to the purpose intended. The west wing, devoted to the librar}-, had 

 been furnished with alcoves and a gallery extending around three 

 sides of the room, an arrangement serving to increase greatly the 

 accommodation and security of the books. 



No report was made by the building committee after this year. 



1858. 

 In his report for 1858 Secretary Henry states that — 



In order to increase the capacity of the large room appropriated to the collection, 

 the cases have been arranged in two stories, forming a series of alcoves and a gallery 

 on each side. By the adoption of this plan space can lie provided for douljle the 



number of specimens which were exhibited at the Patent Office. 



******* 



Comparatively few repairs have been required during the past year on the 1)uild- 

 ing, though the changes which have been necessary to accommodate the increasing 

 operations of the Institution have involved considerable expense. The corridors, 

 which were entirely open to the northwest wind, have been inclosed with glazed 

 sashes; a large amount of space has thus been rendered available, and a considerable 

 jiortion of the interior of the building protected from the inclemency of the weather. 



During this 3^ear the (jovernment collections at the Patent Office 

 were transferred to the lower main hall of the Smithsonian building, 

 in accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress of August 

 10, 1816. 



FIRE OF 1865, AND RESTORATION OF THE BUILDING. 



On Janiuuy 21, 1865, the building of the Smithsonian Institution 

 was visited by a destructive fire, which burned out the upper story of 

 the main building and the large towers at the north and south 

 entrances. The following account of this disaster is taken from Sec- 

 retar}^ Henry's report for 1865: 



The most important event of 1865 was the destruction of a part of the building and 

 its contents by the fire of January 24. This event must continue to form an epoch 

 in the history of the Institution; and though it can not but be considered a most 

 serious disaster, it may yet lead to changes of importance in the correction of ten- 

 dencies which might ultimately have al)sorl)ed the aimual income and neutralized 

 the more liberal policy which has thus far iH'en pursued. In view, tiierefore, of tiie 

 character of the event, as v.ell as the continuity of the history, it is deemed expe- 



