Dinwiddie was first constructed in 1923 and then enlarged in 1927 in an Elizabethan style with Alabama limestone by Moise Goldstein and Associates architects. The structure today has been updated with eco-friendly features and is LEED Gold certified.
It currently houses the Department of Anthropology, as well as the the Middle American Research Institute (M.A.R.I.). Founded in 1924, M.A.R.I. strives to promote a greater understanding of the vibrant and diverse cultures of Middle America. It has an extensive collection of textiles, artifacts, letters, field notes, maps, and photographs from the scores of field projects it has sponsored.
M.A.R.I. also supports anthropological, archaeological, ethnohistorical, linguistic, and ethnographic research projects throughout Mexico and Central America.