Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-12
Buildings on the Mall.


and replace In another situation the
building popularity known as the "Old
National Museum" Standing as 1t
does across the line Of Ninth street If
through the Mall to unite the northern
and southern lines Of travel, it must,
short Of physical removal to new site,
be razed. Erected about half a century
ago, it has served a useful purpose and
has in its time been center of great
public interest. It's halls have been visit
ed by countless thousands, indeed mil
lions, drawn by the treasures Of art and
science and industry therein housed.
Though somewhat eclipSed in public in
terest in latter years by its neighbor
structure, on the north flank of the
Mall, also o branch Of the Smithsonian
Institution, the New National Mu-
scum" It has remained, through dis
tinct classification Of exhibits, q mecca
for innumerable visitors to this day.
When erected the building was re-
garded as a notable addition to the Cap
tails architecture Public, or at least
official, taste was not then as sound Is
it has subsequently become. There was
no standard Of structural beauty that
conformed to the fundamental princi-
piles Of architecture. Standing along
side Of the Smithsonian, which pos
sesses a distinctive character and a
quality exceptionally adapted to the park
setting, 1t has always been a rather
glazing offense to the eye. Hence there
will be no repining over its passing, for
the sake Of its outward form and hue.
however fond may be the memories Of
its service in aRording an intimate view
Of the wonders Of modern science.
In legislation now pending before
Congress, and advanced by the Senate
the other day, provision Is made for q
commission to study the matter Of the
replacement Of the museum in another
site. It will be considered whether the
new structure Is to be located in the
immediate vicinity Of the present one,
which Is to say in close relation to the
Smithsonian. If that Is the decision,
the museum need not be placed within
the Mall, but it can be adequately set
in land to the south. as part of the
project, not yet definitely adopted, Of
expanding the Government holdings
south Of the Mall to correspond with
the extension on the north.
In this connection attention should
be paid to the matter of the building
Immediately east of the "old museum"
the Army Medical Museum. That
structure is decidedly an intruder in
the park. It has no relationship to the
group Of scientific establishments of
which 1t is q close neighbor. It was
located there in the days when Govern
ment constructions were begrudged sites
on lands that had to be bought for the
purpose, when the parks were regarded
as proper prey for any construction
enterprise of q public character. It
should by all means be RACED and re-
placed by structure In another loca-
ton related to the work which. Is carried
on within its walls. 1t is a branch of
the War Department ana as such should
go with that establishment when it Is
given its own permanent home upon
one Of the several sites suggested and
now under selective constellation.
Certain classes Of structures may ap-
propriately be located T>thin the Mall,
now that a policy Of ting that space
for q distinctive character Of construc-
tions has been adopted. But there
should be no expansion Of the uses to
which this area is to be put, and ex-
traneous occupants, as far as possible,
should be removed, just as the tempo
rary war buildings" which now cover
such large area of the reservation are
to be RACED as soon as permanent quar-
tiers are provided elsewhere for their
present tenants.