Today in Smithsonian History: May 1, 1847

Architectural drawing of the north facade of the Smithsonian Institution Building by architect James Renwick, 1846.

May 1, 1847 During a ceremony that included Masonic rituals, the cornerstone of the Smithsonian Institution Building is laid. Almost 7,000 people attended the ceremony and the occasion is regarded in Washington, D.C.,  as a public holiday.

Ironically, the ceremony was documented in great detail, and there are many records that describe attendance, speeches and prayers, the gavel that was used, the inscription on the stone, and its contents, but there are no known records of the stone’s location.

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