Boundary Markers

At each corner of the National Building Museum’s site is a sculptural Boundary Marker.  The four markers are identical in design, and offer a reinterpretation of classical forms adapted to symbolize the museum’s mission.  In lieu of a classical urn, each Boundary Marker is topped by a similarly shaped plumb bob, one of the oldest and most important tools of the building trades.  Each plumb bob is supported by groups of workers, which sculptor Raymond Kaskey modeled after photographs of construction workers discovered in the archives of the National Building Museum.  These support figures also resemble the sculpted soldiers found on the building’s terra cotta frieze.  Because the building was originally home to the U.S. Pension Bureau, its exterior frieze features repeating panels of Union soldiers during the Civil War.  Just as the original frieze identified the building’s purpose to serve veterans, Boundary Markers represents the National Building Museum’s mission to advance the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives.

Kaskey is well known for his public sculpture.  He created the bronze lions for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, located just across F Street from the National Building Museum.  Kaskey also created the bronze adornments for the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, including sculpted eagles, wreaths, garlands and twenty-four narrative bas-reliefs.