Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-02
Air Museum Site

Like many others, ! have
hoped that the best possible
site would be selected for the
National Air Museum. Having
watched the steady stream of
young visitors to this city
pour through the present in
adequate temporary building.
I know that a large down.
town site which is readily
accessible is one of the prime
requirements.
! would like to suggest that
the historic Pension Once
Building at Fifth and F.
streets NV, which was built
as a war memorial. would adj
mirably f1ll this need. In ad-
dition, it is one of the city's
great buildings of real beauty.
1t is very well built and much
larger than anything which
could be constructed on the
Mall site opposite the Ma
tional Gallery of Art. It
would readily house the pro-
posed National Air Museum
with a minimum of structural
change. thereby saving the
taxpayers of this country
fully $40 million.
Another important factor is
that placed in the Pension
ONCE Building the Air Mu-
scum would be only two
blocks from the equally dis
tinguished Civil Service
Building which is now sched-
uled to house the National
Art Museum. Visitors could
easily go from one national
museum to the other. Since
both museums will be under
the direction of the Smith
sonian Institution, their
physical nearneSs would serve
to complement each other.
In addition, two such great
museums in this neighbour
hood would give vital impetus
to the much-needed upgrad-
ing of the surrounding area.
The SlumS in this vicinity at
the present time repel visi-
tors to our city and local
residents as we'll. An impor-
tant program of renewal and
modernization there is long
overdue.
A decision in this matter
seems Of such Importance
that l trust the regents of
the Smithsonian Institution.
lnclGding 6 Vice President
Nixon who is on the board.
will give 1t their most serious
attention. Perhaps the Sen
ate, before which a National
Air Museum bill is now
pending. will take steps to
utilize the Pension once
Building for the Air Museum.
HOrtense Amram.
The present move to
change the site for the Gull
tural Center SO that the Air
Museum could be placed on
the Mall may ultimately lead
to the defeat of both meas
ures. 1t puts those who OPP
posed the Air Museum on
the Mall and endorsed the
site for the Cultural Center
in an awkward position to
accept something that they
did not advocate.
There is too much double
talk by the National Capital
Planning Commission con-
corning the Mall area as a
site for the Cultural Center.
The Smithsonian and the
other buildings on the north
side Of Independence avenue
extend beyond jefferson
drive and to encompass the
Cultural Center between
Adams drive and Independ-
ence avenue, Fourth and
Seventh streets S.W., would
place the Cultural Center in
line with them. AS / under
stand it, the Mall between
the Capitol and the Wash
ington Monument would then
be in the form of a cross with
the outer arms being the Ar
chives building and the mon
ument Office building on the
south side of Independence
avenue. between Seventh and
Ninth street S.W.
I have been a consistent
advocate for an orderly plan
ming and betterment of the
Mall and Southwest areas,
as my testimony at the re-
cent hearings on the Cultural
Center and Air Museum bills
will bear out. Congress re-
Gently passed a law which
has designated the attractive
building at Seventh and F
street NV, where the Civil
Service Commission is now.
as an art building of the
Smithsonian Institution.
Within Just two blocks Of