26 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1947 



In addition to the above-mentioned appropriations, the Gallery re- 

 ceived the sum of $21,600 from the Department of State to cover ex- 

 penses during the fiscal year of the Inter-American Office of the 

 Gallery, for the promotion of art activities between the United Sates 

 and the Latin-American Republics. 



ATTENDANCE 



During the fiscal year 1947, there were 1,448,038 visitors to the Gal- 

 lery building, an average daily attendance of 3,989. This attendance 

 figure shows a decline as comparea with last year, when the total 

 number of visitors was 1,947,668. The decrease is undoubtedly due to 

 the fact that during the first 6 months of the fiscal year there were 

 fewer men and women from the armed services in the city and normal 

 tourist traffic had not yet been resumed. Attendance during the last 

 3 months of the year has risen nearly to the 1946 level, visits of groups 

 of school children being unusually numerous. 



The Sunday evening openings, featuring concerts in the Gallery's 

 East Garden Court without admission charge, have continued to be 

 exceedingly popular throughout the year. 



CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING 



It was necessary during the year to overhaul completely two of the 

 large refrigeration machines, and this was successfully accomplished 

 by the Gallery staflf. 



Considerable improvement has been made in the care of the grounds, 

 including the extension of the irrigation system, and the Gallery staff 

 is now growing a large portion of the smaller plants used for the 

 decoration of the two garden courts. 



The staff also produced all the special exhibition cases and several 

 pedestals for the exhibition of Indigenous Art of the Americas (Bliss 

 Collection), as well as the special lighting effects required for this 

 exhibition. 



INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL AIE-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT 



As stated in the annual report for the fiscal year 1946, the gradual 

 opening of additional spaces in the Gallery building and the con- 

 struction of six new galleries made it necessary to augment the air- 

 conditioning equipment. This was made possible by funds donated 

 for the purpose, and the installation of a fourth refrigeration machine 

 is now in the final stage of completion. It was anticipated that this 

 contract would be completed during the fiscal year 1946, but owing 

 to various difficulties the date of completion was necessarily delayed. 

 It is now expected that the installation should be completed and all 

 equipment ready for operation by November 1947. 



