NATURAL HISTORY BUILDING 103 



fittings generally certain basic units of dimension have been recog- 

 nized, following a long established custom, which lends itself to uni- 

 formity of installation in the exhibition halls, and to a wide inter- 

 change of parts in connection with the storage of specimens. By 

 this system of standardizing the storage drawers and shelves, as well 

 as the cases for holding them, additions to or any rearrangement of 

 the contents of the cases is effected with little trouble. 



The two large uncovered courts enclosed by the building, each 

 measuring 128 feet square, are intended in due time to be made acces- 

 sible to the public. They have been graded and sodded, and provided 

 with gravel walks, and in their present condition they are available 

 for the display of such classes of large objects as are not affected by 

 exposure to the weather. Further improvements with a view to their 

 better adaptation to exhibition purposes are contemplated. 



GROUND STORY 



This story is adapted to a greater variety of purposes than any of 

 the others. It contains the auditorium ; one wing is utilized for the 

 mechanical plant and the principal workshops; another includes a 

 large exhibition hall, and the third the rooms assigned to shipping 

 purposes and to the storage and distribution of supplies. Otherwise 

 the story is mainly given over to the storage of collections, and to 

 laboratories, preparators' workrooms and offices. The description of 

 the story begins naturally with the north entrance, which is the one 

 most easily reached from the cars on Pennsylvania Avenue and Ninth 

 Street. From the vestibule, finished in gray and pink Tennessee 

 marble, three doors open into the large lobby, the treatment of which 

 is especially dignified and effective, the walls, piers and columns of 

 its middle section being entirely of white marble. A large opening 

 in the center of the south wall affords a vista through the great hall 

 or foyer of the north wing as far as the entrance to the auditorium. 

 In the end walls are the openings into the ranges, provided with 

 double doors of ground glass set in bronze frames ; while on the right 

 in entering is the landing for the elevators, and on the left one of 

 the main staircases of the building, the latter occupying the entire 

 depth of the projection of the pavilion beyond the face of the adjoin- 

 ing range. The lobby is the headquarters of the watch, the room 

 back of the elevators serving as the office of the captain, and another 

 opening into the southeast corner as the locker and rest room for the 

 members of the force. 



East range. — This range, with a median corridor, extending from 

 the north wing to the east wing, is typical in its subdivision. In 

 the northern section the space contiguous to the outer wall is divided 

 between the library and the office of buildings and labor in the pro- 

 portion of two to one. On the court side three units in length are 



