During our field trip in the lower Manhattan one building that completely amazed me was the National Museum of the American Indian, located in Bowling Green New York, NY, 10004.

The building which was originally the first U.S costume house in NY is a classical example of the beaux arts style. It was completed in 1907 and designed by the architect Cass Gilbert who won the competition for the design of the costume house among 20 other architects , and it is part of the New York City landmarks.

On the exterior of the building there are Corinthian columns that each of them tell the story from mythology and history with sculptures and decorations made out of marble. The grand stairs that are leading to the building emphasizing the big size of the building which reflects its significant.

On the interior of the building it was designed completely with marble included walls, floors and decorated columns. The dome ceiling is decorated with painting telling the history of the U.S. There is also large panels on the walls with paintings that show the history of the people who built the New York harbor ,the ships that came with the new immigrants from Europe and the Dutch. The skylight which brings natural light to the building is one of the largest free standing ocular in the world with no steel support possible by the geometric shapes of the building that reference to the design of Rome. The focal point of the interior design in the building is the decorated central rotunda.

When the world trade center was built the costume house was moved there and its original building was abandoned. The city decided to renovate it and after it was restored and cleaned to its original design, galleries were opened there and that how the building became the National Museum that it is known for today.