The Smithsonian Castle and the Seneca Quarry

Resource Information

The work The Smithsonian Castle and the Seneca Quarry represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in DC Public Library System. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

The Smithsonian Castle and the Seneca Quarry

Statement of responsibility

Garrett Peck

Creator

• Peck, Garrett

Subject

• Buildings
• History
• Public buildings
• Public buildings -- Design and construction
• Public buildings -- Washington (D.C.) -- Design and construction | History -- 19th century
• Public buildings -- Washington (D.C.) -- History -- 19th century
• Quarries and quarrying
• Quarries and quarrying -- Maryland | Seneca -- History -- 19th century
• 1800-1899
• Sandstone -- Maryland | Seneca -- History -- 19th century
• Seneca (Md.) -- History -- 19th century
• Seneca Quarry -- History -- 19th century
• Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.)
• Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.) -- History
• Washington (D.C.)
• Washington (D.C.) -- Buildings, structures, etc
• Sandstone

Genre

• History

Language

eng

Summary

British scientist James Smithson left a fortune to the country he so admired but had never visited. His gift founded the Smithsonian Institution and built the Smithsonian Castle. Today, the castle's distinct Romanesque façade glows warmly against the cool marble that dominates the National Mall. Yet the story of the stones is just as remarkable as that of the building that they grace. It was a boom-bust ride for the Seneca Quarry -- the source of the red sandstone. The quarry saw its first developer die, filed for bankruptcy twice, suffered through floods and contributed to a national scandal that embarrassed the Grant presidency and helped bring down the Freedman's Bank. This is the untold history of the quarry owners and emancipated slaves who toiled there and the many people who work to this day to save Seneca. Join author Garrett Peck as he traces the unlikely story of the Smithsonian Castle and the Seneca Quarry

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

727/.60009753

Illustrations

• illustrations
• maps
• plates

Index

index present

LC call number

NA4227.W2

LC item number

P43 2013

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography