Online Exhibition

“A well-conceived, rich media experience that is compelling,” said a jury member of the American Association of Museums’ (AAM) Media and Technology Standing Professional Committee, in reference to the Museum’s online exhibition Building America. Other judges agreed, and, in 2003, Building America received a Silver MUSE Award from the AAM. Launched in the summer of 2002, Building America is a comprehensive and interactive online exhibition exploring American achievements in architecture, engineering, construction, planning, design, and landscape architecture. It fits seamlessly into the Museum’s mission, and extends the Museum’s reach to a broad constituency. Designed for both the expert and the novice, Building America not only documents the history and evolution of building and planning types, but also uses the built environment to investigate larger themes in American life, like community and freedom. The site includes video clips, audio components, interactive programs, and more than 600 color illustrations — photographs, drawings, computer-generated images — making it a truly engaging experience. The Museum hopes virtual visitors will continue to enjoy Building America in their own homes, by logging on to www.building-america.org or accessing the exhibition through the Museum’s main site, www.nbm.org.