Earlier this spring, George Washington University announced that real estate developer and history buff Albert H. Small had donated his entire collection of odds end ends about D.C. history, plus $5 million, for the construction of a new museum on the University’s campus. GWU is now now working towards an amendment to their campus plan to make the thing a reality, and has retained Hartman Cox Architects to do one of their characteristically classical designs for the 26,000-square-foot, four-story edifice.

There might be a little neighborhood grumbling about the fact that the museum will be plopped on top of what’s now a contemplative rose garden, but on the scale of things, something dedicated to D.C. history—-especially if it’s open to the public—-is one of the better things a university could replace it with. It’s particularly exciting because GWU, over the years, has weakened its academic programs that study the Washington region. So perhaps having a dedicated museum will catalyze more support for contemporary research.