The National Mall in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Welcome to the Hirshhorn Museum's Sculpture Garden
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 20, 2017
First opened in 1974, this garden displays sculptures from Europe and North America dating from the 1880s to the present. More than 400,000 people visit this garden each year. So while we invite you to look, relax, study, stroll, sketch, and take photographs, we ask that you please do not touch the sculptures.
Sculptures are more fragile than most people realize. Steel and other metal works are made from several pieces welded together. These connections can weaken and break when weight is applied. Bronze sculptures are actually hollow casts with thin surfaces that are easily dented or scratched In addition, all outdoor sculptures suffer from urban air pollution, so we protect them with a delicate coating of clear wax. But this invisible protectant erodes when touched, even lightly, leaving that part of the piece exposed to the elements. Also, fingernails and jewelry may cause tiny scratches that can never be fixed. For these reasons, climbing, sitting on, or leaning against any sculpture is not permitted.
Please help preserve these remarkable artworks for future generations.
Erected by Smithsonian Institution.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 38° 53.354′ N, 77° 1.384′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. Marker is on Jefferson Drive Southwest west of 7th Street Southwest, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 777 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington DC 20560, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Welcome to the Hirshhorn Museum's Sculpture Garden (a few steps from this marker); We Come in Peace, 2018 (a few steps from this marker); For Gordon Bunshaft, 2006, fabricated 2007-2008 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to the Hirshhorn Museum's Sculpture Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to the Hirshhorn Museum's Sculpture Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Yoko Ono (within shouting distance of this marker); Monarchs on the Move (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the Hirshhorn Museum's Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest Washington.
Additional commentary.
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Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 20, 2017
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 10 times this year. Last updated on February 11, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.