Arts and Industries Building

Frommer's Review

The building is closed for an extensive renovation. Completed in 1881 as the first U.S. National Museum, this redbrick and sandstone structure was the scene of President Garfield's Inaugural Ball. (It looks quite similar to the Castle, so don't be confused; from the Mall, the Arts and Industries Building is the one on the left.) From 1976 to the mid-1990s it housed exhibits from the 1876 U.S. International Exposition in Philadelphia -- a celebration of America's centennial that featured the latest advances in technology.

Weather permitting, a 19th-century carousel operates across the street, on the Mall.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.