As a young elementary school age child I often day dreamed about the old Smithsonian Castle. I had only seen it in books and on television. The Gothic architecture intrigued me even though I did not understand that is what it was. It was a mysterious castle to me, filled with huge dinosaur bones, skeletons and things in jars.I imagined standing in the midst of all of it and looking up at the tall ceilings and perhaps getting locked in the place by myself at night.
Not until many years later did I realize that Smithsonian Institute was not just one mysterious castle. We moved to the Washington DC area and the old museum became a favorite day trip about once or twice a month.
Although today the "Castle" mostly houses all the administrative office's of the Institute and serves as the main visitors center is still my favorite building on the Capitol Mall.
The first Smithsonian building begun in 1847 by James Renwick Jr. It was made from Seneca Sandstone and was of the Gothic Revival style with Romanesque motif
James Smithson's tomb is located in the north entrance of the Castle.
I am still in love with this old building . It gives me a little childhood chill every time I visit. 

Photography Janie Lambert
Washington DC