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CHRONOLOGY - HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN

May 17, 1965 Mr. Hirshhorn, in a letter to President and Mrs. Johnson, offered to contribute his entire collection of works of arts to the Smithsonian under stated conditions.

May 19, 1965 The Secretary was authorized by the Board of Regents to discuss the potential gift of a collection of works of art and sculpture with Mr. Hirshhorn. Subject to the acceptance by the President of the gift of the collection, the Secretary was further authorized to submit proposed legislation to designate the Mall site for a sculpture garden and gallery for the Hirshhorn collection and to authorize planning.

May 17, 1966 The President transmitted legislation to enable the Smithsonian to accept the Hirshhorn collection of art and to construct a museum.

November 2, 1966 The Act of November 2, 1966, authorized a new headquarters building for the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in order to clear the approved Mall site for this museum.

November 7, 1966 The Congress authorized construction of the museum and sculpture garden as it is visualized today. It is important to note that the revised sculpture garden is situated within the original authorized limits but without crossing the vista or central panel of the Mall.

Circa January 25, 1967 Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill was appointed architect of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.