![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pension-building-timeline.png\")
<\/figure>1881 \u2013 A New Federal Need<\/strong> 1882 \u2013 Construction Begins<\/strong> 1885 \u2013 A Dual Purpose<\/strong> 1887 \u2013 Completion and Classical Inspiration<\/strong> 1930 \u2013 New Tenants<\/strong> 1967 \u2013 A Preservation Proposal<\/strong> 1969 \u2013 Recognized for Its Significance<\/strong> 1980 \u2013 A Museum Designated by Congress<\/strong> 1985 \u2013 National Historic Landmark<\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Explore how the Pension Building, the National Building Museum\u2019s home, came to be, evolved, and found new purpose as a museum celebrating the building arts. 1881 \u2013 A New Federal…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":7547,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[426],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7528"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7966,"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7528\/revisions\/7966"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
After the Civil War, the number of Union veterans seeking pensions grows significantly. In response, Congress commissions a dedicated federal building. U.S. Army Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs is appointed architect and engineer, marking this as his final and most important architectural project.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pension-building-timeline-1.png\")
<\/figure>
Meigs designs the building to be functional and promote health, incorporating natural light and air circulation. He selects brick for its affordability, fire resistance, and durability, and hires skilled bricklayers to achieve the exterior\u2019s clean, consistent appearance.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pension-building-timeline-2.png\")
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Though still under construction, the building hosts its first major public event: President Grover Cleveland\u2019s inaugural ball.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pension-building-timeline-3.png\")
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Construction wraps up. The exterior design is modeled on the Palazzo Farnese in Rome, while the interior\u2019s arcaded galleries echo the Palazzo della Cancelleria.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pension-building-timeline-4.png\")
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The U.S. General Accounting Office moves into the building, shifting its function while maintaining its role as a federal workplace.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pension-building-timeline-5.png\")
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As the building ages, the government considers taking it down. Architect Chloethiel Woodard Smith recommends repurposing the building as a museum dedicated to architecture and the building arts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pension-building-timeline-6.png\")
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The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, officially recognizing its historical and architectural importance.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pension-building-timeline-7.png\")
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An Act of Congress designates the building as the future home of a museum focused on American achievements in architecture, engineering, and construction.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nbm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pension-building-timeline-8.png\")
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The Pension Building receives National Historic Landmark status, solidifying its legacy and securing its place in the story of Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n