The United States National Miisetim 329 



ductiveness, viz., acquisitions from foreign exhibits. With 

 scarcely an exception, the best and most important of these 

 were presented to the United States at the close of the exhi- 

 bition, embracing, as they did, many complete series of objects, 

 illustrating the geology, metallurgy, the ethnology, and the 

 general resources of all nations. Of about forty governments 

 and colonies, the choicest of the exhibits of thirty-four were 

 presented to the Smithsonian Institution for the National 

 Museum, the remainder either having nothing to give or 

 being restricted in the disposal of their articles. 



** It was, however, not from foreign commissions alone that 

 collections were received by the Institution. Several entire 

 State exhibits and many belonging to private parties were 

 also added to the general increase. Nevada, Montana, and 

 Utah presented the whole of their mineral exhibits, while par- 

 tial collections were received from several other States and 

 Territories." 



The Reofcnts of the Institution submitted a memorial to 

 Congress the same year (1876) asking an appropriation of 

 $250,000 for a building for the National Museum. A bill 

 was introduced, but failed of passage that year, and it was 

 not until 1879 that the amount asked for was provided. 



As soon as the law was enacted a building commission ap- 

 pointed by the Regents of the Institution was organized, con- 

 sistino- of the resident members of the executive committee 

 of the Institution (Honorable Peter Parker and General 

 William T. Sherman) and Secretary Baird. General Sher- 

 man was chosen as chairman and General M. C. Meisfs was 

 invited to act as consulting engineer. 



The commission selected the firm of Cluss & Schulze, 

 whose design for the building had been approved by Con- 

 gress, as superintending architects, and received the benefit 

 of the advice of Mr. Edward Clarke, architect of the Capitol. 



The erection of the building was begun April 17, 1879, and 

 22 



