Great Hall at the National Academy of Sciences Bertram Grosevenor Goodhue, Lee Lawrie, Hildreth Meiere & Albert Herter National Academy of Sciences Building 2101 Constitution Avenue NW (entrance at 2100 C Street) generally open to the public M – F, 8:30 – 5:00/

The Great Hall of the National Academy of Sciences was designed by architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, working closely with sculptor Lee Lawrie, and artists Hildreth Meiere and Albert Herter. As throughout the entire National Academy of Sciences building, decoration celebrates the history and significance of science, as it was known in 1924.

Download the Great Hall brochure, with photos and a detailed description of the iconography of the Hall. NAS Great Hall Brochure

The main feature of the Great Hall is the soaring dome that rises 56 feet above the floor. The dome is divided into eight sections, each with figures, subjects, tools, and theories associated with the sciences as recognized in 1924: geology, chemistry, astronomy, physics, mathematics, botany, zoology, and anthropology. At the center of the dome is the sun, surrounded by symbols of the eight planets known in 1924.
There are two inscriptions on the dome. The inscription surrounding its base reads: "To science, pilot of industry, conqueror of disease, multiplier of the harvest, explorer of the universe, revealer of nature's laws, eternal guide to the truth." Around the sun, the second inscription reads: "Ages and cycles of nature in ceaseless sequence moving."

A Foucault pendulum (no longer in operation) is suspended from the oculus at the center of the dome. Figures in the pendentives supporting the dome represent the four elements: earth, air, water, and fire. Venerable institutions of learning and science that preceded the NAS are recognized in the arches at the base of the dome.

On the north wall a painting by Albert Herter represents Prometheus, aided by Athena, stealing the divine fire from the chariot of the sun god helios, to bring to humanity the flame of knowledge. Beneath the painting, a quotation from Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound describes the benefits conferred on the world by science.

To learn more about the design and architecture of the National Academy of Sciences building, click here.

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