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| Typical doorway at National Building Museum |
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| The frieze traverses the entire building. |
I nearly always have to stop and stare at the National Building Museum every time I go by there as it is just so ornate. Each doorway is decorated with interesting red brick work, roman arch, reclining figures and mythic-looking heads. Then there's the big frieze that goes around the entire building -- which is the size of a city block. I'm sure there's whole books written about the civil war figures and carts and munitions depicted but suffice to say, the detail is staggeringly visible even if you do have to crane your neck to look up at it. I've been to half a dozen events inside the building from annual dinners, to a college graduation to a political ball. And the inside is just as interesting and wonderful. Apparently, it was built first as the Pension Building where civil servants sat row upon row processing pensions for civil war and other veterans. I seem to recall a great exhibit about this in one room on the second floor and which includes photos of the construction as it occurred. This building is truly a marvelous feat and something not to miss seeing if you happen to be near Judiciary Square or have the time to walk up from the Nauseum, whoops, I meant Newseum.
