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1791 - Capitol Ground Selected
Scene depicting the Capitol Cornerstone Ceremony of 1793, by Allyn Cox
1793 - Capitol Cornerstone Laid
The floorplan for the winning design of the Capitol by William Thornton.
1793 - Capitol's Design Selected
North Wing of the Capitol, watercolor by William Birch
1795 - Capitol Construction Delayed
1796 - Suggestion for Botanic Garden
North Wing of the Capitol, watercolor by William Birch
1800 - First Convening of Congress in Washington
1800 - Senate's First Meeting in the Capitol
Design of the Library of Congress of the United States, 1808
1800 - Library of Congress Established
1801 - Supreme Court Meets in Capitol
Small House Rotunda
1807 - Small House Rotunda Constructed
Artist representation of the old Hall of Representatives Chamber
1807 - House Moves into New Chamber
1808 - Lenthall Killed in Ceiling Collapse
1810 - Court Held in the Old Supreme Court Chamber
1813 - Military Action in the War of 1812
Artist rendering of the Capitol on the east side after the fire of 1814
1814 - Fire of 1814
1815 - Senate Chamber Reconstructed
Car of History in Statuary Hall
1819 - Car of History Added to Hall of the House
1819 - Liberty and the Eagle Installed
1819 - Congress Returns to the Capitol
The original building of the U.S. Botanic Garden was located on the National Mall.
1820 - Land Acquired for the Botanic Garden
1824 - Center Building Completed
1825 - Adams Inaugurated
1826 - East Portico Completed
1828 - Senate Chamber Addition
1836 - Land Acquired for Capitol Square
Car of History in Statuary Hall
1837 - Car of History Clock Works Installed
Statue of George Washington
1841 - George Washington Statue Placed in Rotunda
1842 - U.S. Botanic Garden's Collection Started
Restored Old Supreme Court Chamber, 1810 - 1860
1844 - Technology in the Capitol
Statue of George Washington
1844 - George Washington Statue Moved
1848 - Death of John Quincy Adams
The original building of the U.S. Botanic Garden was located on the National Mall.
1850 - Botanic Garden Relocated
1851 - Capitol Extension Cornerstone Laid
1852 - Funeral of Henry Clay
Progress of Civilization sculptural group in the pediment in the Senate wing
1853 - Senate Pediment Designed
1855 - New Dome Approved
1855 - Hall of Columns Built
View of the Brumidi corridor on the first floor, Senate wing
1855 - Brumidi Corridors Started
Progress of Civilization sculptural group in the pediment in the Senate wing
1855 - Senate Pediment Carved
Statue of Freedom Plaster Model
1855 - Statue of Freedom Commissioned
Pres. Harding addressing Joint Session of Congress 04/11/1921
1857 - House of Representatives Moved
Statue of Freedom Plaster Model
1857 - Statue of Freedom Shipped from Italy
1859 - Senate Moved
Statue of Freedom Plaster Model
1859 - Statue of Freedom Arrived in Washington
1860 - Capitol Dome Contracted
Statue of Freedom
1860 - Statue of Freedom Cast in Bronze
1860 - Supreme Court Moved
Statue of Freedom
1863 - Statue of Freedom Installed
Capitol with the proposed East Front Extension.
1863 - Additional Office Space Suggested
Progress of Civilization sculptural group in the pediment in the Senate wing
1863 - Senate Pediment Erected
History and Justice, sculpture above the main door to the U.S. Senate, east portico
1863 - "Justice and History" Installed
1864 - Hall of the House Converted
View of the Jefferson building taken from the roof of the Cannon House office building
1864 - Spofford Appointed Librarian of Congress
1865 - Apotheosis of George Washington Painted
1866 - Capitol Dome Completed
1867 - Botanic Garden Enlargements
1870 - National Statuary Hall Populated
1870 - The Copyright Act of 1870
1872 - Capitol Square Enlarged
Library of Congress in the Capitol, stereoscopic view
1872 - Spofford Requests Library Enlargement
1874 - Olmsted Commissioned for Capitol Grounds
Bartholdi Fountain
1877 - Bartholdi Fountain Purchased
1879 - Summerhouse Construction
1880 - Summerhouse Completed
The bronze statue of John Marshall was orginally located on the west plaza of the Capitol.
1884 - John Marshall Statue Unveiled
1886 - Library Land Acquired
1888 - Library of Congress Building Planned
Statue of Freedom Plaster Model
1890 - Statue of Freedom Model Moved
1892 - Grounds Architecture and Terrace Completed
Painting of Peace by Walter Dean
1893 - Peace Painted
1897 - Thomas Jefferson Building Canopy Painted
1897 - Thomas Jefferson Building Opened
1900 - National Statuary Hall Dome Replaced
Painting of Peace by Walter Dean
1900 - Peace Painting Hung
1902 - U.S. Botanic Garden moved off the Mall
1903 - House Office Building Authorized
1904 - Capitol Power Plant Authorized
1906 - Capitol Power Plant Construction
President Theodore Roosevelt laying the cornerstone
1906 - Cannon Building Cornerstone Laid
Statue of George Washington
1908 - George Washington Statue Moved
1908 - Capitol Power Plant Shake-Up
1908 - Cannon House Office Building Completed
1909 - Capitol Power Plant Cornerstone Laid
Old electric Senate subway wooden-wheel Studebaker car
1909 - Senate Subway
1909 - Russell Senate Office Building Completed
1910 - Land Acquired for Parks
1910 - Capitol Power Plant Opened
1910 - Library of Congress SE Courtyard Filled
Apotheosis of Democracy, sculptural group in the pediment of the House wing
1911 - Apotheosis of Democracy Created
Old electric Senate subway wooden-wheel Studebaker car
1912 - Senate Subway Replaced
Building, ca. 1920 when coast and Geodetic Survey had offices at 119 D Street N.E.
1915 - Eney, Chestnut, Gibson Building Opened
Peace Protecting Genius, the center figures in the House pediment being raised into place
1916 - Apotheosis of Democracy Unveiled
1917 - Signal Corps Move to Eney, Chestnut, Gibson Memorial Building
Painting of Peace by Walter Dean
1919 - Peace Painting Relocated
Booster pump station, balancing tank and flow meter .Connection at the Senate end of chilled water main. 04/03/1938
1923 - Power Plant Boilers Replaced
Exterior view, facing southwest
1925 - Longworth Building Planned
1925 - Recital Hall Constructed
1927 - Land Acquired for Botanic Garden
1927 - Library of Congress NE Courtyard Filled
1928 - Putnam Urges for Additional Library Space
1928 - U.S. Supreme Court Building Commission Created
Exterior view, facing southwest
1929 - Longworth Building Land and Funds Acquired
1929 - Supreme Court Designer Hired
1929 - Supreme Court Building Designs Approved
1929 - Supreme Court Building Funds Secured
Adams building construction - construction work under Second Street SE. 09/27/1934
1930 - Adams Building Funds Appropriated
1932 - Jefferson Building Extension
Erection of the steel framework of the Supreme Court Building 07/01/1932
1932 - Supreme Court Cornerstone Laid
1932 - Bartholdi Fountain Moved
Statuary Hall in the House wing of the Capitol
1933 - National Statuary Hall Rearranged
1933 - Ratification of the 20th Amendment
Exterior view, facing southwest
1933 - Longworth Building Completed
Committee room
1933 - Russell Building Enlargement
Botanic Garden Administrative Building
1933 - Botanic Garden Administrative Building Completed
From the roof of the HEW building on Independence Avenue (07/24/1980)
1933 - Botanic Garden Conservatory Completed
Main entrance to the Administrative building for the Botanic Garden
1934 - Botanic Garden Offices Moved
1935 - Supreme Court Building Completed
1938 - Taft Elected to Senate
1938 - Capitol Power Plant Addition
Adams Building
1938 - Adams Building Completed
1975 photograph of the Ford House Office Building
1939 - Ford Building Occupants
Restoration completed on the Science and Technology Reading Room 10/22/1998
1939 - Adams Building Opened
1939 - Ezra Winter Murals
Mural by Rockwell Kent entitled “America at Peace” in room 1334 of the Longworth Building, shot 09/20/1968
1944 - America at Peace Unveiled
1946 - Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946
NW corner of bldg. Left, c street marble set to 4th floor level. At right 1st street marble columns placed for the facade. 03/13/1957
1948 - Dirksen Building Land Acquired
Relief Portrait of Thomas Jefferson
1949 - Relief Portraits of Lawgivers Installed
1949 - House Chamber Reconstructed
Present Chamber of the U.S. Senate
1949 - Senate Chamber Reconstructed
Exterior view, facing southwest
1949 - House of Representatives Relocated
Alterations to the east side of the boiler house on the stoker level. 04/09/1952
1950 - Capitol Power Plant Boilers Replaced
Arrest of the Puerto Rican nationals who shot up the House Chamber
1954 - Shooting in the House Chamber
Robert Taft memorial, by Douglas W. Orr, 08/28/1961
1955 - Robert A. Taft Memorial Authorized
1955 - Rayburn Building Land Acquired
1955 - Third House Office Building Proposed
Marble being erected on west side of bldg from south to north sections. At left, marble erected to the 1st floor level. 12/28/1956
1955 - Dirksen Building Construction Begins
1957 - Library of Congress Overcrowding
1958 - Capitol Power Plant Expansion
Breaking into Tiber creek sewer near C Street. Sept. 1957
1958 - Rayburn Building Construction
Dirksen Senate Office Building from First Street N.E. and Constitution Avenue
1958 - Dirksen Building Completed and Occupied
Robert Taft memorial, by Douglas W. Orr, 08/28/1961
1959 - Robert A. Taft Memorial Dedicated
1959 - Rayburn Building Design Unveiled
1960 - Senate Subway Monorail Replaced
1960 - Old Supreme Court Chamber Vacated
1960 - Madison Library Funds Appropriated
1962 - East Front Extension Completed
May 24, 1962 President John F. Kennedy tapping the cornerstone into place during ceremony
1962 - Rayburn Building Cornerstone Laid
1964 - Capitol Christmas Tree Planted
1964 - West Front Extension
Small Senate Rotunda
1964 - Chandelier Hung In Small Senate Rotunda
Setting Rhyton into place, August 1964
1964 - Rayburn Building Rhytons
Aerial view of the Rayburn building
1965 - Rayburn Building Completed and Occupied
1960 design for a third building for the Library of Congress
1965 - James Madison Building Approved
1966 - Longworth and Cannon Building Renovations
Statue of Freedom Plaster Model
1967 - Statue of Freedom Model Stored
1970 - Capitol Power Plant Enlargement
1971 - Madison Building Excavation
Dirksen Senate Office Building from First Street N.E. and Constitution Avenue
1972 - Dirksen Building Named
1972 - Senate Office Building Overcrowding
Marble statue of Sen. Richard Russell by Frederick E. Hart
1972 - Russell Building Named
1973 - Murals in the Cox Corridor
Main entrance to the building
1973 - Land Requested for Capitol Police Headquarters
History and Justice, sculpture above the main door to the U.S. Senate, east portico
1974 - "Justice and History" Sculpture Replaced
Limestone frontispiece with Doric pilasters supporting an entablature with carved egg-and-dart molding
1974 - Building Acquired for Capitol Police
Plaque on building naming it in honor of Officers Eney, Chestnut, and Gibson
1974 - Future Capitol Police Building Vacated
1974 - Madison Building Cornerstone Laid
Mixed media sketch of Hart office building atrium by Olof Dahlstrand 12/16/1976
1974 - Hart Building Approved
1975 - Old Supreme Court Chamber Restoration
1975 - Ford House Office Building Acquired
Hart building construction - groundbreaking for the Dirksen Senate office building extension. (l to r): Assistant Architect of the Capitol Mario Campioli & Architect of the Capitol George White 01/05/1976
1975 - Hart Building Construction
Foundation and excavation of the Hart building Dirksen building in the background 02/13/1976
1975 - Hart Building Excavation
Restored Old Senate Chamber
1976 - Old Senate Chamber Restoration
Superstructure, northeast corner looking southwest. October 1975
1976 - Madison Building Completed
1977 - Broadcasting House Proceedings
1979 - Capitol Visitor Center Proposal
Exterior of the Longworth building
1980 - Library of Congress Annex Renamed
View of the Jefferson building taken from the roof of the Cannon House office building
1980 - Thomas Jefferson Building Named
1980 - Madison Building Dedication
“Falling Books” sculpture by Frank Eliscu
1980 - Madison Building Opened
Statue of Chief Justice John Marshall by William Wetmore Story, 1884
1981 - John Marshall Statue Moved
1982 - Cox Corridors Murals
Exterior of the Hart building from the corner of Second Street and C Street N.E
1982 - Hart Building Completed and Occupied
Mountain and Clouds sculpture by Alexander Calder in the atrium
1985 - Mountains and Clouds Installed
Aerial view of the site for the Judiciary building on Massachusetts Avenue
1985 - Federal Judiciary Building
Soaring ceiling of the Great Hall
1986 - Jefferson Building Restored
1986 - Bartholdi Fountain Restored
Mountain and Clouds sculpture by Alexander Calder in the atrium
1987 - Mountains and Clouds Dedicated
Aerial view before construction, 2004
1988 - National Garden Authorization
View from roof top of Union Station looking east at the building under construction 1991
1989 - Federal Court Building Architects Hired
Close-up view of new building identification plaque on exterior front wall of building 05/21/1993
1990 - Ford Building Named
Aerial view of the site for the Judiciary building on Massachusetts Avenue
1990 - Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building Construction
1991 - Capitol Visitor Center Funding
Statue of Freedom Plaster Model
1992 - Statue of Freedom Model Restored
View of the Thurgood Marshall building shot from the to of Union Station
1992 - Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building Finished and Occupied
1993 - Technology in the House
Detail of ceiling vault Boone at Cumberland Gap Cox Corridor 3
1993 - Third Cox Mural Completed
View of the Jefferson building taken from the roof of the Cannon House office building
1994 - Jefferson Building Restoration Completed
1994 - Thurgood Marshall Building Named
Raoul Wallenberg Bust
1995 - Wallenberg Bust Donated
1995 - Capitol Visitor Center Design
Statue of Sen. Richard Russell and looking up at the ceiling of the Rotunda in the Russell building
1995 - Russell Statue Installed
Main entrance to the National Audio Visual Conservation Center
1997 - Packard Center Transferred
1997 - Botanic Garden Closed for Restoration
Dedication plaque in main hallway
1998 - Two Capitol Police Officers Tragically Killed
1999 - New Police Headquarters Dedicated
2001 - Capitol Visitor Center Pre-Construction
Aerial view of Botanic Garden conservatory
2001 - Botanic Garden Conservatory Reopened
Excavation progress looking west. Congressional Auditorium excavation in foreground.
2002 - Capitol Visitor Center Construction Began
Steel framing for the CVC
2003 - Capitol Visitor Center Structure Construction
2004 - Senate Rain Garden
Aerial view showing entire site excavated, 08/25/2004
2004 - National Garden Contracted
View of the Botanic Garden conservatory and the National Garden in the background
2006 - National Garden Completed
Views of the garden
2006 - National Garden Opened
2008 - Preserving Heritage Assets
2008 - Capitol Visitor Center Completed
Statues from the Statuary Hall collection in Emancipation Hall
2008 - Statues Moved
Statue of Freedom Model Moved
2008 - Statue of Freedom Plaster Model Moved
2008 - Capitol Visitor Center Occupied
2008 - Capitol Visitor Center Dedicated
Restored Congressional Reading Room
2008 - Jefferson Building Refurbishment
Typical staff space in Senator's suite
2008 - Hart Building Modernization
2008 - Bartholdi Fountain Restoration
Sojourner Truth Bust
2009 - Sojourner Truth Bust Donated
Dome at night
- New Capitol Dome Built
- Capitol Air Conditioning
- Vietnam War Hearings
Aerial View of the Capitol Power Plant 07/29/2009
- Capitol Power Plant Enlarged
1932 - Bartholdi Park Created
Bartholdi Park
1985 - Bartholdi Park Renamed
Bartholdi Fountain with Electric Lights
1915 - Bartholdi Fountain Fitted for Electric Lighting
1886 - Bartholdi Fountain Fitted with Lights
1887 - Garfield Monument Unveiled
1884 - Garfield Monument Commissioned
1975 - Garfield Monument Joins Grounds
1992 - Garfield Monument Conserved
Peace Monument
1991 - The Peace Monument Conserved
Peace Monument
1999 - The Peace Monument Cleaned
Peace Monument
1876 - The Peace Monument Shipped to Washington
Peace Monument
1877 - The Peace Monument Erected
1929 - Senate Fountain Authorized
1932 - Senate Fountain First Operated
Dr. William Thornton
1794 - Thornton becomes first "Architect of the Capitol"
Benjamin Henry Latrobe
1803 - Latrobe Appointed
Benjamin Henry Latrobe
1803 - Latrobe Hires John Lenthall
1805 - Latrobe Reports Need to Rebuild North Wing
1806 - North Wing Further Decays
Corn Capitals
1809 - Corn Columns Installed
1808 - Supreme Court Chamber Redesigned
Benjamin Henry Latrobe
1815 - Latrobe Rehired to Restore Capitol
Design proposed for the Hall of Representatives, 1815
1815 - House Hall Redesigned by Latrobe
Thomas Jefferson
1815 - Jefferson Sells Collection to Congress
Small Senate Rotunda
1816 - Design for Small Senate Rotunda
Tobacco Capitals
1816 - Tobacco Capitals Modeled
Benjamin Henry Latrobe
1817 - Latrobe Resigns
Charles Bulfinch Portrait
1818 - Charles Bulfinch Hired
1818 - Center Building Cornerstone Laid
Charles Bulfinch Portrait
1822 - Bulfinch Requests Funding for Dome
1825 - Fire in Library
1826 - First Plan for External Offices Created
1828 - Representatives Principal Staircase Built
1832 - Water Piped into the Capitol
Crutchett's Lantern
1847 - Lantern Placed atop Capitol Dome
Thomas Ustick Walter Portrait
1851 - Thomas Ustick Walter Appointed
1851 - Library Burns, Again
Edward Clark Portrait
1865 - Edward Clark Appointed
Edward Clark Portrait
1867 - Official First use of Title "Architect of the Capitol"
Edward Clark Portrait
1902 - Edward Clark Dies in Office
Elliot Woods Portrait
1902 - Elliot Woods Appointed
Elliot Woods Portrait
1921 - Elliot Woods Given Title Architect of the Capitol
Elliot Woods Portrait
1923 - Elliot Woods Dies in Office
David Lynn portrait
1923 - David Lynn Appointed Architect of the Capitol
George M. White Portrait
1971 - George M. White Named Architect of the Capitol
Portrait of Alan M. Hantman, FAIA
1997 - Alan M. Hantman Appointed
Stephen T. Ayers, AIA, LEED AP
2010 - Stephen T. Ayers Nominated as Architect of the Capitol
J. George Stewart Portrait
1954 - J. George Stewart Appointed
1787 - Constitution Provides for a National Capital
Cart on road overlooking Potomac River.
1790 - Residence Act
George Washington
1791 - Commissioners Appointed
An entry to the Capitol design competition.
1792 - Design Competition for Capitol Building Held
Rendering of the
1804 - South Wing Plans Altered
Sketch of a section of the South Wing
1803 - Capitol's First Appropriation
1802 - Board of Commissioners Abolished
Rendering of the
1801 - The "Oven" Constructed
1808 - North Wing Reconstruction Approved
1814 - Restoration Authorized
Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull
1817 - Congress Commissions Historical Paintings
1827 - Landscape Improvements
1827 - Congressional Privies Built
1828 - Gates and Guard Houses Built
Genius of America
1828 - Genius of America Unveiled
Charles Bulfinch Portrait
1829 - Bulfinch Retires
1830 - Washington's Tomb
Section of the South Wing
1850 - Capitol Enlargement Funded
New library room, looking north
1853 - Library Reopens
Capitol Extension
1851 - Marble Selected for Extension
Montgomery C. Meigs
1853 - Engineer In Charge
Revised Plan of the South Wing
1853 - Floorplans altered
Calling of Cincinnatus from the Plow
1855 - Brumidi Paints First Fresco in Capitol
Minton Tiles
1855 - English Tiles Laid
1856 - First Occupant of the Capitol Extension
Plans for the Capitol Dome
1859 - Dome Revisions
Montgomery C. Meigs
1859 - Meigs Replaced
Montgomery C. Meigs
1861 - Meigs Returns
Union Troops at the Capitol
1861 - Civil War Affects Construction
Union Troops Occupy Capitol
1861 - Army Occupies Capitol
Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way
1861 - Leutze’s Painting
Thomas Ustick Walter Portrait
1862 - Department of the Interior
Thomas Ustick Walter Portrait
1865 - Thomas U. Walter Retires
Capitol Extension Completed
1867 - Capitol Extension Completed
Member’s Retiring Room
1879 - Member’s Retiring Room
Construction of the Capitol Terrace
1884 - Terrace Construction
1885 - Electric Lighting Introduced
Aftermath of gas explosion in the Capitol
1898 - Gas Explosion
Demolition of the Iron Library
1900 - Former Library Space Rebuilt
Removal of the roof over the Old Senate Chamber.
1901 - Fireproof Roofs Installed
Russell Senate Office Building Construction
1904 - Senate Office Building Authorized
In an effort to restore the Rotunda, paint was stripped off the stone walls.
1905 - Rotunda Walls Cleaned
Section of the North Wing, Looking North
1816 - Revisions to North Wing Plan
1928 - Air Conditioning Arrives
Construction on the East Front Extension
1955 - East Front Extension Funds
East Front Cornerstone Ceremony
1959 - East Front Cornerstone
Terrace Restoration and Courtyard Infill
1986 - Terrace Restoration and Courtyard Infill
Exterior view of the National Audio Visual Conservation Center
2007 - Packard Campus
Portrait of Alan M. Hantman, FAIA
2007 - Alan Hantman Retires
Dr. William Thornton
1794 - Administrative Changes
1793 - Stephen Hallet Takes Charge
1795 - George Hadfield Hired
1798 - James Hoban Takes Charge
1810 - New Senate Chamber
1816 - Commissioner of Public Buildings
1819 - Exterior Stonework First Painted
1865 - Lighting Improvements
1882 - First Incandescent Lights
1897 - Grounds Illuminated by Electric Lights
1987 - Senate Proceedings Broadcasted
George M. White Portrait
1995 - George White Retires
Bartholdi Fountain after restoration
2011 - Bartholdi Fountain Returns
Capitol Reflecting Pool
2011 - Union Square added to Capitol Grounds
Rosa Parks Statue
2013 - Rosa Parks Statue Joins U.S. Capitol Art Collection
Scaffolding surrounds the Statue of Freedom during its conservation
2012 - Statue of Freedom Conservation
Statue of Frederick Douglass
2013 - Frederick Douglass Statue
Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP, Eleventh Architect of the Capitol
2010 - Stephen T. Ayers Appointed Architect of the Capitol
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