The Smithsonian Castle and The Seneca Quarry (Landmarks)

British scientist James Smithson left a fortune
to the country he so admired but had never visited. His gift founded the
Smithsonian Institution and built the Smithsonian Castle. Today, the castle’s
distinct Romanesque façade glows warmly against the cool marble that dominates
the National Mall. Yet the story of the stones is just as remarkable as that of
the building that they grace. It was a boom-bust ride for the Seneca Quarry—the
source of the red sandstone. The quarry saw its first developer die, filed for
bankruptcy twice, suffered through floods and contributed to a national scandal
that embarrassed the Grant presidency and helped bring down the Freedman’s
Bank. This is the untold history of the quarry owners and emancipated slaves
who toiled there and the many people who work to this day to save Seneca. Join
author Garrett Peck as he traces the unlikely story of the Smithsonian Castle
and the Seneca Quarry.