Smithsonian Institution (Washington D.C., USA — 1846) — Questions and answers

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What was the special nickname for the Smithsonian Institution building?

Choices

  1. The Castle ✓
  2. The Palace
  3. The Tower
  4. The Fortress

Answer: The Castle

From page 1

What inspired James Renwick's special Neo-Gothic building style?

Choices

  1. American farmhouses
  2. European cathedrals ✓
  3. Ancient Roman temples
  4. Modern factories

Answer: European cathedrals

From page 2

How did Renwick's friends and colleagues first feel about his Gothic designs?

Choices

  1. They thought they were the best ever!
  2. They thought they were too radical and impractical. ✓
  3. They wanted him to design more Gothic buildings.
  4. They helped him draw more Gothic sketches.

Answer: They thought they were too radical and impractical.

From page 3

Why was Renwick's design chosen for the Smithsonian Institution?

Choices

  1. It was the cheapest design submitted.
  2. It blended Gothic style with American practicality and captured the spirit of curiosity. ✓
  3. It looked exactly like all the other buildings in Washington D.C.
  4. He was the only person who submitted a design.

Answer: It blended Gothic style with American practicality and captured the spirit of curiosity.

From page 4

In what year was the Smithsonian Institution Building finally finished?

Choices

  1. 1846
  2. 1855 ✓
  3. 1860
  4. 1872

Answer: 1855

From page 7

What did the Smithsonian Institution Building become a symbol of?

Choices

  1. Knowledge, innovation, and human creativity ✓
  2. Only a place for eating lunch
  3. A giant toy store
  4. A big playground for kids

Answer: Knowledge, innovation, and human creativity

From page 8

What does James Renwick Jr.'s masterpiece continue to inspire in visitors?

Choices

  1. Boredom and confusion
  2. Awe and wonder ✓
  3. Tiredness and sleepiness
  4. Hunger and thirst

Answer: Awe and wonder

From page 10