Did You know that the National Building Museum has a long history with veterans?

Built in the 1880s as an office for the U.S. Pension Bureau, architect Montgomery C. Meigs designed the building that is now the National Building Museum with soldiers in mind. Architectural features were designed to honor the brave fighters of the Civil War and to accommodate the wounded veterans who frequented the building to collect their pensions.

On November 8, 2009, in honor of Veterans Day, the National Building Museum will offer a concert with the Navy Band, family activities, and special tours of its facility. Bring the family, a blanket, and picnic (food can be purchased in the cafe in the Museum's Great Hall) and enjoy a free, noon-time performance by the United States Navy Band Cruisers. Visitors can also take special tours and learn about the history of the Pension Building. The tours will focus on aspects of the Museum's historic home that are especially relevant on Veterans Day, such as:

• The 1,200-foot-long terra cotta frieze along the building's exterior, which depicts Union infantry, cavalry, artillery, navy, quartermaster, and medical units.
  
  
• Special consideration had to be made to prevent fire and protect the soldiers' records in the "New Pension Office," which led to Meigs' decision to construct the building out of bricks--15,500,000 in total.
  
  
• The stairs between the first three floors of the building were constructed especially wide and low to accommodate wounded soldiers on crutches.

Read More About Veterans Day Events in Washington DC