The Capitol Building

Capitol Dome being painted

Acrophobia? Painting the Capitol Dome

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
venezuela walk

Two-Year Hike to Attend a Boy Scout Jamboree

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...
Capitol Building in 1924

Best Photo of the Capitol Building Ever

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?
In late 1959 through 1960, the Capitol Dome underwent a significant repair and restoration effort and at the end of 1959 the exterior of the Dome was surrounded by scaffold.

The Capitol Dome Was Once Red

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...

The Capitol Building Bombing (1915)

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...
Abraham Lincoln delivers his second inaugural address

Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

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...
National Mall

National Mall Viewed from the Washington Monument

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

View from the Roof of the Capitol … in 1861

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...
Circa 1908. "West front, U.S. Capitol, Washington."

Awesome West Front View of Capitol in 1908

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

Early Drawing of Capitol Building

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