America's Favorite Architecture

I was so impressed with this building that I had to come to this site, just to see if it was listed. If it hadn't made the top 150, I would have considered the list invalid.

I must ask: Did Montgomery C. Meigs really design the Pension Building? As a Captain, he was the "project manager" for the Corps of Engineers when it was assigned managment responsibility for the Capitol expansion program designed by Architect Thomas U. Walter. Meigs tried to claim credit for designing the new dome for the Capitol which replaced the original Bulfinch dome by saying that Walter was merely drawing up his (Meigs') ideas for the dome. He even went so far as to place his own name on Walter's drawings to substantiate his claims.

On a previous project that he "managed," the Potomac Aquaduct, he had his name inscribed on most of the flat pieces involved, an indication of his vanity.

But after Walter raised objections to all of Meigs meddling interference on the Capitol project, Meigs was transfered (banished?) to an island off the coast of Florida.

There can be no question he did a great job as Quartermaster General by organizing the supplies for the Union troops wherever they were. In fact, he probably contributed as much as any single person to the Union's victory.

But I have a hard time believing anything other than he simply took credit for designing the Pension Building. If there is substantial historical evidence that he did, I would like to know.

When relatives/friends come to Washington, this is one of those 'Places You Don't Know About' that I always point them to.

I work in this beautiful building and watch as people congregate in the Museum's Great Hall throughout the day to enjoy its grandiose atmosphere. It is truly one of the most awe-inspiring structures in Washington, DC and should be on more people's list of places to visit when they come or if they live in the nation's capital.

The vast, interior space, with those astonishing columns and a simple fountain in the center today, is simply like nothing else in Washington. The continuous bas relief sculptural frieze encircling the exterior is another gem of this building. Top it all off with the current museum programs offered within (on architecture and buildings!) and you have another must-visit, but oft-overlooked destination in DC.

a very likeable building. The phony marble columns are always good for a chuckle, but it is a tremendous space.

It is worth mentioning that this was one of the first buildings if not the first building designed for handicapped accessibility. The stairs were designed with a low rise and long run to acoomodate the challenges of the many amputees among the civil War pensioners the building was designed to serve. The stairs were intended to be easier to navigate with crutches, or by scooting for a double leg amputee using his arm strength.