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Bureau of Engraving and Printing - Washington, DC
- photos taken August 2006, TMC. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing had its foundations in 1861 with workers signing, separating, and trimming sheets of Demand Notes in the Treasury building. Gradually, more and more work, including engraving and printing, was entrusted to the organization. Within a few years, the Bureau was producing fractional currency, revenue stamps, government obligations, and other security documents for many federal agencies. In 1877, the Bureau became the sole producer of all United States currency. The addition of postage stamp production to its workload in 1894 established the Bureau as the nation’s security printer, responding to the needs of the U. S. government in both times of peace and war. Today, the Bureau is the largest producer of U. S. government security documents with production facilities in Washington, D.C. and in Ft. Worth, Texas. Click here to see denominations no longer in circulation. On a tour of the BEP you'll see millions of
dollars being printed during a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
("BEP"). Currency production methods
have changed drastically since the BEP was established in 1862. At that time,
just six people separated and sealed notes by hand in the basement of the
Treasury building. In 1911, Congress appropriated a total of $2,300,000 toward the purchase of the land and the construction of the building which would become the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's third home. With James Knox Taylor as the Supervising Architect, a construction contract was signed on November 17th, 1911 to have the building completed by May 1st, 1913. Construction was done by J. Henry Miller, Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland. Due to foul weather and a lack of steel girders, the construction was not completed until February 24th, 1914 and the new building was not formally occupied until March 19th, 1914. The overall cost was $2,882,000. By the mid 1920’s, the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing was once again looking to expand The Bureau moved to its present site in 1914. The Fort Worth, Texas facility was created to meet increased currency production demands - it opened its doors in 1991. Though new printing, production and examining technologies have brought us into the 21st Century, the Bureau's engravers continue to use the same traditional tools that have been used for over 125 years - the graver, the burnisher, and the hand-held glass. -from brochure handed out at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and from the official site of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing |
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The tour features the various steps of currency production,
beginning with large, blank sheets of paper, and ending with wallet-ready bills.
As the U.S. Government's security printer, the BEP is responsible for the
design, engraving and printing of all U.S. paper currency. A world leader in
printing technology, the Bureau also produces postage stamps, White House
invitations, Treasury obligations and other U.S. securities.
and centralize
its facilities since the outbuildings were in poor condition and additions to
the building were not practical. On August 13th, 1935, Congress appropriated
$2,000,000, not to exceed $5,500,000, for the land and construction for a new
building opposite the main building on 14th Street, between C and D Streets. The
third building, known as the “annex building”, would also house the Public
Debt Division of the Treasury Department. By March of 1936, extensive plans had
been drawn up, demolition of the existing structures had begun and in June the
first concrete was poured. The building was occupied on May 17th, 1938 and
dedicated in November of 1938 at a total cost of $6,325,000.