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Lecture

National Academy of Sciences Building Art and Architecture Tour

November 25, 2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (ET)

National Academy of Sciences (NAS) building

Upcoming

© 2012 by Maxwell MacKenzie

Tour the "nation's home of science in America."

Take a one-hour guided tour of the beautiful National Academy of Sciences building at 2100 C St., NW, Washington, D.C. Dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in April 1924 and designed by architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, the building’s architecture is a unique fusion of classical elements and “irregular” forms and celebrates the history and significance of science.

On this tour, admire rich Hellenic, Byzantine, and Egyptian architectural influences and touches of Art Deco. Explore the Great Hall with iconography by Hildreth Meière and other ceremonial rooms with architectural sculpture by Lee Lawrie and murals by Albert Herter. You’ll also peek inside the acoustically brilliant Fred Kavli Auditorium, part of the 1970 wing.

Enjoy artwork and exhibitions exploring intersections of art, science, and culture.

This tour is organized by the Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS). CPNAS sponsors exhibitions, salons, theatrical readings, and other events that explore relationships among the arts and sciences. The NAS is a private, nonprofit institution that recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, technology, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.

Learn more about the exhibitions on view at www.cpnas.org.

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Organizers

Major units and sub-units

National Academy of Sciences

Primary

Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences

Primary

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