46. Stewart Lee Udall Building’s History, Art and Architecture

Stewart Lee Udall Building’s History, Art and Architecture

Tour description:
Discover the art and architecture that made the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building a "symbol of a new day" during the Great Depression. Designed by local architect Waddy Butler Wood (1869–1944) and completed in 1936, the Interior’s headquarters structure features more Public Works Administration (PWA) artwork than any other federal building and has the second most PWA artists represented. The overview of the U.S. Department of the Interior past and present will provide historical context for the "Department of Everything Else" and explain how the agency has evolved since its founding in 1849 to its current status employing more than 70,000 professionals and being a steward to one-fifth of the nation's lands. As part of the indoor walking tour, guests will visit the museum and also view a selection of the more than 40 painted murals by New Deal-era artists, plus several of the 1941–1942 photomurals by Ansel Adams throughout the building. For those in need of special assistance (such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired), please notify museum staff in advance; special needs will be accommodated whenever possible.

Tour Guide: Tracy Baetz; Chief Curator, U.S. Department of the Interior Museum

Ward: 2

Tour Information:

· Tour Starting Location:

U.S. Department of the Interior Museum

1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240

Meet in the U.S. Department of the Interior Museum, located inside the Department of the Interior headquarters. Enter the building via its C Street lobby on C Street, between 18th and 19th Streets, NW. All individuals over 18 years of age are required to present a valid, government-issued photo ID to enter the building. All visitors are subject to security screenings, including bag and parcel checks. The entry process usually takes less than 10 minutes. The Interior Museum is located just beyond the Visitor Processing Center. For additional answers to frequently-asked questions about visiting the building, please see https://www.doi.gov/interiormuseum/Plan-a-Visit.

· Closest Metro or Bus Line: Farragut West Metro or Farragut North Metro (each is approximately 6 blocks away)

· Tour Ending Location: U.S. Department of the Interior Museum, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240

· Tour Length: 1 hour 30 minutes

· Tour Distance: 1 mile(s)

· Fitness Level: Low Level (intensity of slow walking, flat terrain)

· Audio Enhancer: No

· ASL: No

· Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

· Stroller Accessible: Yes

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

U.S. Department of the Interior Museum, 1849 C Street Northwest, Washington, United States