SECRETARY'S REPORT ,5 



been declared unavailable to the Institution. Other promising loca- 

 tions, however, are ready for consideration. The National Air 

 Museum today maintains, mostly in storage for the future, effective 

 displays of the world's most comprehensive collection of historic air- 

 craft, including innumerable devices and pieces of scientific apparatus 

 that are related to this important phase of modern life. It is hoped 

 that funds may soon be provided to make possible a suitable building 

 for the National Air Museum in close proximity to the other units of 

 the Smithsonian. 



The Congress, in 1846, authorized the establishment, within the 

 Smithsonian organization, of an art gallery, which later was desig- 

 nated as the National Collection of Fine Arts. The important works 

 of art in the custody of this bureau are now inappropriately housed 

 in the Natural History Museum. A new and proper building to ac- 

 commodate this notable collection and to make possible the acceptance 

 of other available collections in the fine and decorative arts was au- 

 thorized by the Congress in 1938. In spite of many efforts, however, 

 the private funds that were expected to finance the planning and 

 erection of this building have not been secured. Each year pressure 

 from the public to make this building a reality becomes greater. Soon 

 some positive action in regard to this problem must be taken. 



Congressional proposal has been discussed in the public press for 

 the establishment, possibly as a new and separate bureau of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, of a National Portrait Gallery. It has been sug- 

 gested that this collection be housed in the old Patent Office Building. 

 This handsome building is now occupied by offices of the Civil Service 

 Commission, but it is not too well suited for a modern office building. 

 It is believed that this architectural monument of early Washington 

 could be transformed without too great cost into an admirable gallery 

 to house collections of portraits of Americans who have contributed 

 importantly to our country. The possibility that the National Col- 

 lection of Fine Arts could also be housed in this building deserves 

 study. 



Besides the buildings mentioned above, additional structures are 

 urgently needed by the Smithsonian Institution at the National 

 Zoological Park. There is also continued discussion by interested 

 members of the public of the need for the erection of a National 

 Planetarium in connection with the Smithsonian's Astrophysical 

 Observatory. Such a building would have great educational value 

 for the millions of citizens who come each year to Washington. 



Rebuilding of Exhibits Continues 



The program for the renovation of the exhibits in the old existing 

 Smithsonian buildings, which has been discussed previously, continued 



