The National Mall in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Public Art for a Modern Museum
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
| | Kenneth E. Behring Center | |
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 15, 2017
1. Public Art for a Modern Museum Marker
The Museum of History and Technology (later the National Museum of American History) was the first example of modernist architecture on the National Mall when it opened in 1964. Architect Walker Cain envisioned a landscape plan that would include abstract public art to highlight the building's modern aesthetic. The Constitution Avenue fountain was installed in 1967, as was Jose de Rivera's Infinity, Alexander Calder's Gwenfritz followed in 1969.
Captions
Infinity by Jose de Rivera (left) on the south terrace and Alexander Calder's Gwenfritz (right) on the Museum's west side, 1970s.
Erected by Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.
Location. 38° 53.506′ N, 77° 1.817′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. It can be reached from Constitution Avenue Northwest (U.S. 50) east of 14th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east. The marker is on the grounds of the National Museum of American History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1300 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20560, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Renovating the Fountain (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 15, 2017
2. Public Art for a Modern Museum Marker
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 11, 2025
3. Public Art for a Modern Museum Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 357 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 15, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on August 11, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
