Made in the U.S.A. 7 inches Polystone Product Description This replica of the Smithsonian Castle is a beautiful patriotic piece for any office or home. The Smithsonian Institution Building, popularly known as the "Castle," was designed by architect James Renwick, Jr. The building is constructed of red sandstone from Seneca Creek, Maryland, in the Norman style (a 12th-century combination of late Romanesque and early Gothic motifs). Have you ever wondered why so many landmarks in Washington, DC, look like Greek and Roman temples? When forming the country, the Founders looked to Greco-Roman principles of justice, rule of law, process, and liberty as successful models of government. When plans were made to build the United States Capitol in 1793, Thomas Jefferson asked that Congress be housed in an ancient Roman temple, in the same neoclassical style he had used for his design of the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond in 1788. As can be seen in the National Archives building, the neoclassical style continued to be popular for government buildings and monuments well into the late 1930s. The National Archives preserves and protects some 28,000 plans of public buildings across the United States.
