Greg Thomas

One of the first exhibits you will encounter in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History is a journey through the fossil record of the ancient sea. Make no mistake, you are looking at seafloor creatures 500 million years old, the dawn of the fossil record. No doubt you will later make your way to the National Gallery of Art. Enter on Constitution Avenue, and before setting foot in the magnificent rotunda, peal off left or right for the restroom. There, above the urinals, sinks, and hand driers, you will see those same 500 million year old ammonites, brachiopods, and mollusks fossilized in the black green marble on the bathroom walls and floor. No placard, no explanation, but strikingly there, the seafloor surrounds you. You may draw attention if you look too closely, for too long, and certainly refrain from engaging other patrons in your discovery. But the fact that the marble is chock full of fossils is precisely why it is in the bathroom. In the world of design and architecture, such creatures are imperfections of a lesser grade marble and so don’t get showcased in important areas. The adage, “someone’s trash is another’s treasure,” comes to mind. Want more? Keep your eyes open, the Smithsonian is marble town!