The Capitol Building

Fascinating drawing of the U.S. Capitol from the 1870s showing proposed modifications to the building. This is the west elevation of the building, the opposite side of the National Mall. Source: Library of Congress

These cool old photos shows the city back in 1922, as seen from the air. Source: Boston Public Library Source: Boston Public Library

This incredible old photo of the Capitol Building shows it just after the new dome was completed in 1863. Source: Library of Congress

This photo of the Capitol Building from the 1960s is something you’ll never see again. The Capitol Dome under construction and a lot of cars parked out in front of it. Source: snipview.com

This very rare photo of the Capitol Dome under construction shows it as it looked during the early days of the Civil War. Source: Library of Congress

Here’s a cool bird’s-eye view of the Capitol and the rest of Washington from 1872. Source: Library of Congress

Here’s a terrific old photo courtesy of the Library of Congress showing the Capitol Building. And another awesome old shot of the Capitol. Source: Library of Congress

This photo is going to give you vertigo. It’s a view looking down from the Capitol Dome. Click on it for greater details. Source: Shorpy

How great is this old photo from the 1920s? It shows the inside structure of the Capitol Dome. Source: Library of Congress

Below are two amazing engravings of the President’s House and the Capitol Building following the Burning of Washington on August 24, 1814. The engravings were done by William Strickland. The British marched on Washington and attacked the city, but were...

How beautiful is this image of the Capitol Building? It was taken between 1918 and 1920. Source: Library of Congress

This is an old photo of J.P. Morgan walking in front of the Capitol Building in 1912. He was in town to testify before the Pujo Committee. Source: Library of Congress

This is an extremely rare photograph of James Buchanan‘s Inauguration at the East Front of the Capitol Building on March 4th, 1857. It’s a little blurry and not the highest resolution, but amazing nevertheless. The exposure took four seconds, which...

This is a beautiful photo taken from the Capitol Building in 1936, looking down the Mall at the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian. Source: Cornell University Library

Thanks to GoDCer Mollie for sending this in. It looks like a photo from sometime in the 1920s.

It’s been a glut of Capitol Building photos this week, but I’m sure you’re okay with that. Especially, since they’re amazing old photos. Here’s another great night shot of the building in the rain, this time from 1919. Source: Library...

We posted a cool night photo of the Capitol from 1921. We found another great one, this time from 1907. This was taken by Ernest Crandall. They never get old do they? Source: Library of Congress

This photo is awesome. It was taken in 1921, from the steps of the Library of Congress. And, if you like it, you’re sure to like this one, and this one. Source: Library of Congress

What an excellent photo. It’s labeled as being sometime between 1900 and 1920. Any GoDCers out there able to pinpoint the actual date? Source: Library of Congress

This is a cool old painting from the early 19th century. It shows the Capitol Building as it would have looked during the first decade of the 1800s. Source: Library of Congress

What a cool photo. This was taken on August 26th, 1922, when this gentleman was hanging from the top of the Capitol to paint it. Source: Library of Congress

These two guys are checking out their shoes, and for good reason. They walked from Venezuela to Washington, DC to attend the Boy Scout Jamboree, leaving on January 11, 1935 and arriving June 16, 1937. That’s right, they covered Venezuela,...

Wow. What an incredible photo from 1924. Source: Boston Public Library Okay, so the title might be a little exaggeration, but it’s close right?

Remember the red Capitol Dome that we posted some time ago? Here’s another great view of it. Source: Architect of the Capitol Below is the caption from their Flickr feed. In late 1959 through 1960, the Capitol Dome underwent a...

I was doing some research on J.P. Morgan. (Ok, research backstory: In the summer 1919, he was summoned, er, subpoenaed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. They wanted to ask him why he had a copy of the draft peace...

Abraham Lincoln was sworn in for his second term as president and delivered his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865. There are a couple interesting things we picked out of this photo. First, when you click on the photo...

Here’s a cool shot of the National Mall, as viewed from the Washington Monument in 1936. Source: Cornell University

Not many of us get to see Washington, DC from the roof of the Capitol. None of us ever got to see the view in 1861, but here’s the next best thing. Taken in 1861, this is looking north. The...

This is an incredible black and white photograph of the Capitol that we haven’t come across before. Source: Shorpy

This is a cool drawing that we came across from around the time the Capitol was completed. Source: Library of Congress