BUILDING OF MUSEUM BEGUN. 661 



ing that stipulated, was promptly subscribed, 

 chiefly by citizens of Boston and Cambridge, 

 and Agassiz himself gave all the collections 

 he had brought together during the last four 

 or five years, estimated, merely by the outlay 

 made upon them, at ten thousand dollars.. 

 The architects, Mr. Henry Greenough and 

 Mr. George Snell, offered the plan as their 

 contribution. The former had long been fa- 

 miliar with Agassiz' s views respecting the in- 

 ternal arrangements of the building. The 

 main features had been discussed between 

 them, and now, that the opportunity offered, 

 the plan was practically ready for execution. 

 These events followed each other so rapidly 

 that although Mr. Gray's bequest was an- 

 nounced only in December, 1858, the first sod 

 was turned and the corner-stone of the future 

 Museum was laid on a sunny afternoon in the 

 following June, 1859. 1 



1 The plan, made with reference to the future increase as 

 well as the present needs of the Museum, included a main 

 building 364 feet in length by 64 in width, with wings 205 

 feet in length by 64 in width, the whole enclosing a hollow 

 square. The structure erected 1859-60 was but a section of 

 the north wing, being two fifths of its whole length. This 

 gave ample space at the time for the immediate requirements 

 of the Museum. Additions have since been made, and the 

 north wing is completed, while the Peabody Museum occupies 

 a portion of the ground allotted to the south wing. 

 36 



