Through a pre-coffee haze this morning, we were a little confused by an AP story up on WTOP about how the Smithsonian is looking for someone to move in and take over its Arts and Industries Building. Why did it seem so … familiar? Oh right. Because the Washington Post wrote the same story back in May.

So why did the AP pick up on it today? Because the The Smithsonian Institution issued yet another plea on Thursday for someone, anyone, to make an offer to take on running the historic building. Apparently, nobody’s biting, and the beleaguered SI can’t afford the $65 million renovation tab all on its own.

That this gorgeous building, originally the National Museum Building, which has held some of the Smithsonian’s most important collections, remains fallow is such a shame. Anyone out there in Internet land got an extra $65 million lying around? Surely someone is interested in this real estate.

Photo courtesy Smithsonian Institution

Filed Under: arts, coffee, Industries Building, internet, media, museum, museums, national museum, real estate, running, smithsonian institution, the smithsonian, The Smithsonian Institution, thesmithsonianinstitution, washington, washington post,