Temple of Liberty: Building the Capitol for a New Nation
The Center and Heart of America: Political and Cultural Influence of the Capitol
The Capitol was an immediate popular success. Descriptions in travel accounts beginning in the 1810s often presented it as an accomplished fact, as did the earliest lithographs and engravings. As soon as Bulfinch's dome was raised, numerous engravings and color lithographs were printed of both facades, but the view from the west was most popular. Distant views of Capitol Hill seen from Pennsylvania Avenue or various elevated sites around the city were more popular in the 1830s and 1840s because they showed the newly planted trees that covered the grounds and provided a dark base upon which the white building seemed to float. Objects as diverse as Staffordshire pottery, jaquard coverlets, handboxes, embroidered pictures, and candelabra were created using these prints. Even sheet music covers for patriotic marches reproduced the early printed views of the Capitol.
View of Washington
View of Washington from Home of George Washington's Adopted Grandson. Peder Anderson and Fitz Hugh Lane. "View of the City of Washington,". 1838. Color lithograph. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (223)
An Early Distant View of the Capitol
August Kollner. "West Front of the United States Capitol." New York: Goupil, Vibert, & Co., 1839. Lithograph. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (226)
Early Perspective Engraving Widely Published
"Commercial Directory." J.C. Kayser, 1823. Engraving. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (229)
Copy of Lost Bulfinch Drawing of Completed Capitol
H. and J. Stokes, after Charles Bulfinch. "United States Capitol". The Jackson Wreath. Philadelphia: Jacob Maas, 1829, p. 87. Engraving in book. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (231)
Lithographs Replace Engravings for Prints of Capitol
Charles Fenderich. "Elevation of the Eastern Front of the Capitol of the United States," Washington: William Fischer, 1839. Lithograph. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (232)
Deceptive Close View of Capitol's West Front
W.H. Bartlett. "Ascent to the Capitol". Nathaniel P. Willis, American Scenery, vol. 1. London: Virtue, 1840, opp. p. 37. Engraving in book. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (235)
Most Widely Copied Early View of Capitol
W.H. Bartlett. "View of the Capitol at Washington". Nathaniel P. Willis, American Scenery, vol. 1. London: Virtue, 1840, frontispiece. Engraving in book. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (237)
Wallpaper with Capitol Made Specifically to Decorate Boxes
Bandbox with Wallpaper View of the Capitol, c. 1840. Cardboard and paper. Courtesy J. and D. Louv, Mizzentop Farm Antiques (239)
Abolitionists Use Capitol as Rallying Point
Thomas S. Sinclair. "The Capitol March," 1850. Sheet music cover. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (243)
Henry Clay's Copy of Song Dedicated to Him
Thomas S. Sinclair. "The National Union," 1851. Sheet music cover. Music Division, Library of Congress (244)
Burning of Capitol Seen as Divine Judgement
"A View of the Capitol of the United States After the Conflagration in 1814". Jesse Torrey, A Portraiture of Domestic Slavery in the United States. Philadelphia: Jesse Torrey, 1817, frontispiece. Engraving in book. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (246)
Psychology of the Unconscious Uses Capitol in Advertisement
[Uneeda Biscuit Advertisement], c. 1900. Copyprint. United States Senate Collection, Washington (258)
Capitol Functions as a "Seal of Approval"
[Quaker Wheat Berries Advertisement], c. 1900. Copyprint. Warshaw Collection. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution (260)
Plumbers to the U.S. Capitol
[Durham System Advertisement], c. 1925. Copyprint. United States Senate Collection, Washington (261)
