IWalked Washington D.C.'s Department of Interior
The U.S. Department of Interior Building is a massive structure that covers two city blocks and five-acres of space. Despite the fact that it covers two full blocks the building was granted the single address of 1849 C Street to signify the year in which the department that resides here was founded. The Department of Interior is responsible for oversight and management of all federally owned natural resources (including land) and also to all programs related to Native Americas. It’s somewhat random focus has given it the nickname of “The Department of Everything Else.”
The Department of the Interior was initially housed in the Patent Office Building from 1852 until 1917. After this the department moved to the U.S.General Service Administration (GSA) Building near the intersection of 18th Street, NW and F Street, NW. Over the ensuing years, overflow from this office would require the department to spread across nearly fifteen separate office spaces scattered throughout the city before funding for a new home was approved.
Construction on the Department of the Interior Building began in April 1935 and was completed in an incredibly short period of just eighteen months (finishing in December 1936). The expansive building, with an Indiana limestone façade situated atop a granite base, is seven stories in height with an added eighth story within the central portion of the structure. It is shaped so as to create a series of U-shaped courts and also features a tunnel below it that connects it with its former home of the GSA Building. The building was truly innovative for its time and one of the first to have air conditioning, a parking garage onsite, and a central vacuum cleaning system.
The Department of the Interior Building was designed by architect Waddy Butler Wood. Wood’s other designs across Washington include the Bachelor Apartment House (1737 H St., NW), the Union Trust Building (740 15th Street, N.W), the National Museum of Women in the Arts (formerly a Masonic Temple at 801 Thirteenth St., NW), and the Woodrow Wilson House (2340 S St., NW).
One unique claim that the Department of Interior can make is that this is the only building from which a shot was fired in Washington during World War II. While stationed atop the roof, a soldier accidently misfired his gun and the bullet struck the Lincoln Memorial. You can still view where the bullet hit if you look above the columns. If you glance at the name “Wisconsin,” you will notice that the word is slightly chipped.
In 2010 the Department of the Interior Building was officially named in honor of the former Secretary Stewart Lee Udall. Udall served as secretary for an eight year period during the years 1961-1969. He had passed away earlier that year at the age of 90.
A visit to the interior of this building is worthwhile for two noted reasons. One is that it contains a small museum of intrigue known as the Interior Museum and the second is for the opportunity to view the numerous murals throughout the building. The museum, located on the first floor, highlights the history of the department and admission is free. Hours of the museum are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm(less major holidays). The museum is also where you can coordinate a tour to view the 2,200 square feet of murals throughout the three miles of hallways. There are more Public Works Administration works located within this building than any other governmental building. When these works were being created it was said that then Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes was so involved in overseeing the project that he offered advice to the artists on creation of their paintings and he required final approval of all completed works.
One relatively recent addition to the architectural tour is a series of photographic murals that feature numerous photos from Ansel Adams. Adams had been hired by the National Park Service during the years of 1941-1942 to go out and take pictures of each of the National Parks across the United States. Adams took over two hundred twenty-six photos that were never unveiled until recently. The project had been put on hold due to World War II and was lost to time until it was recently unveiled to the public in March 2010.
For more history regarding this site, including how you can visit this locale via one of our MP3 audio walking tours, check out our site here: iwalkedaudiotours.com/2013/01/iwalked-washington-d-c-s-us...