Jump into the Full Multimedia Virtual Campus
AOC.gov
Botanic Garden
Visitor Center
Accessibility
Back to Virtual Capitol
Learn
1791 - Capitol Ground Selected
1793 - Capitol Cornerstone Laid
1793 - Capitol's Design Selected
1795 - Capitol Construction Delayed
1796 - Suggestion for Botanic Garden
1800 - First Convening of Congress in Washington
1800 - Senate's First Meeting in the Capitol
1800 - Library of Congress Established
1801 - Supreme Court Meets in Capitol
1807 - Small House Rotunda Constructed
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
1814 - Fire of 1814
1815 - Senate Chamber Reconstructed
1819 - Car of History Added to Hall of the House
1819 - Liberty and the Eagle Installed
1819 - Congress Returns to the Capitol
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
1837 - Car of History Clock Works Installed
1841 - George Washington Statue Placed in Rotunda
1842 - U.S. Botanic Garden's Collection Started
1844 - Technology in the Capitol
1844 - George Washington Statue Moved
1848 - Death of John Quincy Adams
1850 - Botanic Garden Relocated
1851 - Capitol Extension Cornerstone Laid
1852 - Funeral of Henry Clay
1853 - Senate Pediment Designed
1855 - New Dome Approved
1855 - Hall of Columns Built
1855 - Brumidi Corridors Started
1855 - Senate Pediment Carved
1855 - Statue of Freedom Commissioned
1857 - House of Representatives Moved
1857 - Statue of Freedom Shipped from Italy
1859 - Senate Moved
1859 - Statue of Freedom Arrived in Washington
1860 - Capitol Dome Contracted
1860 - Statue of Freedom Cast in Bronze
1860 - Supreme Court Moved
1863 - Statue of Freedom Installed
1863 - Additional Office Space Suggested
1863 - Senate Pediment Erected
1863 - "Justice and History" Installed
1864 - Hall of the House Converted
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
1872 - Spofford Requests Library Enlargement
1874 - Olmsted Commissioned for Capitol Grounds
1877 - Bartholdi Fountain Purchased
1879 - Summerhouse Construction
1880 - Summerhouse Completed
1884 - John Marshall Statue Unveiled
1886 - Library Land Acquired
1888 - Library of Congress Building Planned
1890 - Statue of Freedom Model Moved
1892 - Grounds Architecture and Terrace Completed
1893 - Peace Painted
1897 - Thomas Jefferson Building Canopy Painted
1897 - Thomas Jefferson Building Opened
1900 - National Statuary Hall Dome Replaced
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
1906 - Cannon Building Cornerstone Laid
1908 - George Washington Statue Moved
1908 - Capitol Power Plant Shake-Up
1908 - Cannon House Office Building Completed
1909 - Capitol Power Plant Cornerstone Laid
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
1911 - Apotheosis of Democracy Created
1912 - Senate Subway Replaced
1915 - Eney, Chestnut, Gibson Building Opened
1916 - Apotheosis of Democracy Unveiled
1917 - Signal Corps Move to Eney, Chestnut, Gibson Memorial Building
1919 - Peace Painting Relocated
1923 - Power Plant Boilers Replaced
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
1929 - Longworth Building Land and Funds Acquired
1929 - Supreme Court Designer Hired
1929 - Supreme Court Building Designs Approved
1929 - Supreme Court Building Funds Secured
1930 - Adams Building Funds Appropriated
1932 - Jefferson Building Extension
1932 - Supreme Court Cornerstone Laid
1932 - Bartholdi Fountain Moved
1933 - National Statuary Hall Rearranged
1933 - Ratification of the 20th Amendment
1933 - Longworth Building Completed
1933 - Russell Building Enlargement
1933 - Botanic Garden Administrative Building Completed
1933 - Botanic Garden Conservatory Completed
1934 - Botanic Garden Offices Moved
1935 - Supreme Court Building Completed
1938 - Taft Elected to Senate
1938 - Capitol Power Plant Addition
1938 - Adams Building Completed
1939 - Ford Building Occupants
1939 - Adams Building Opened
1939 - Ezra Winter Murals
1944 - America at Peace Unveiled
1946 - Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946
1948 - Dirksen Building Land Acquired
1949 - Relief Portraits of Lawgivers Installed
1949 - House Chamber Reconstructed
1949 - Senate Chamber Reconstructed
1949 - House of Representatives Relocated
1950 - Capitol Power Plant Boilers Replaced
1954 - Shooting in the House Chamber
1955 - Robert A. Taft Memorial Authorized
1955 - Rayburn Building Land Acquired
1955 - Third House Office Building Proposed
1955 - Dirksen Building Construction Begins
1957 - Library of Congress Overcrowding
1958 - Capitol Power Plant Expansion
1958 - Rayburn Building Construction
1958 - Dirksen Building Completed and Occupied
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
1962 - Rayburn Building Cornerstone Laid
1964 - Capitol Christmas Tree Planted
1964 - West Front Extension
1964 - Chandelier Hung In Small Senate Rotunda
1964 - Rayburn Building Rhytons
1965 - Rayburn Building Completed and Occupied
1965 - James Madison Building Approved
1966 - Longworth and Cannon Building Renovations
1967 - Statue of Freedom Model Stored
1970 - Capitol Power Plant Enlargement
1971 - Madison Building Excavation
1972 - Dirksen Building Named
1972 - Senate Office Building Overcrowding
1972 - Russell Building Named
1973 - Murals in the Cox Corridor
1973 - Land Requested for Capitol Police Headquarters
1974 - "Justice and History" Sculpture Replaced
1974 - Building Acquired for Capitol Police
1974 - Future Capitol Police Building Vacated
1974 - Madison Building Cornerstone Laid
1974 - Hart Building Approved
1975 - Old Supreme Court Chamber Restoration
1975 - Ford House Office Building Acquired
1975 - Hart Building Construction
1975 - Hart Building Excavation
1976 - Old Senate Chamber Restoration
1976 - Madison Building Completed
1977 - Broadcasting House Proceedings
1979 - Capitol Visitor Center Proposal
1980 - Library of Congress Annex Renamed
1980 - Thomas Jefferson Building Named
1980 - Madison Building Dedication
1980 - Madison Building Opened
1981 - John Marshall Statue Moved
1982 - Cox Corridors Murals
1982 - Hart Building Completed and Occupied
1985 - Mountains and Clouds Installed
1985 - Federal Judiciary Building
1986 - Jefferson Building Restored
1986 - Bartholdi Fountain Restored
1987 - Mountains and Clouds Dedicated
1988 - National Garden Authorization
1989 - Federal Court Building Architects Hired
1990 - Ford Building Named
1990 - Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building Construction
1991 - Capitol Visitor Center Funding
1992 - Statue of Freedom Model Restored
1992 - Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building Finished and Occupied
1993 - Technology in the House
1993 - Third Cox Mural Completed
1994 - Jefferson Building Restoration Completed
1994 - Thurgood Marshall Building Named
1995 - Wallenberg Bust Donated
1995 - Capitol Visitor Center Design
1995 - Russell Statue Installed
1997 - Packard Center Transferred
1997 - Botanic Garden Closed for Restoration
1998 - Two Capitol Police Officers Tragically Killed
1999 - New Police Headquarters Dedicated
2001 - Capitol Visitor Center Pre-Construction
2001 - Botanic Garden Conservatory Reopened
2002 - Capitol Visitor Center Construction Began
2003 - Capitol Visitor Center Structure Construction
2004 - Senate Rain Garden
2004 - National Garden Contracted
2006 - National Garden Completed
2006 - National Garden Opened
2008 - Preserving Heritage Assets
2008 - Capitol Visitor Center Completed
2008 - Statues Moved
2008 - Statue of Freedom Plaster Model Moved
2008 - Capitol Visitor Center Occupied
2008 - Capitol Visitor Center Dedicated
2008 - Jefferson Building Refurbishment
2008 - Hart Building Modernization
2008 - Bartholdi Fountain Restoration
2009 - Sojourner Truth Bust Donated
- New Capitol Dome Built
- Capitol Air Conditioning
- Vietnam War Hearings
- Capitol Power Plant Enlarged
1932 - Bartholdi Park Created
1985 - Bartholdi Park Renamed
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
1991 - The Peace Monument Conserved
1999 - The Peace Monument Cleaned
1876 - The Peace Monument Shipped to Washington
1877 - The Peace Monument Erected
1929 - Senate Fountain Authorized
1932 - Senate Fountain First Operated
1794 - Thornton becomes first "Architect of the Capitol"
1803 - Latrobe Appointed
1803 - Latrobe Hires John Lenthall
1805 - Latrobe Reports Need to Rebuild North Wing
1806 - North Wing Further Decays
1809 - Corn Columns Installed
1808 - Supreme Court Chamber Redesigned
1815 - Latrobe Rehired to Restore Capitol
1815 - House Hall Redesigned by Latrobe
1815 - Jefferson Sells Collection to Congress
1816 - Design for Small Senate Rotunda
1816 - Tobacco Capitals Modeled
1817 - Latrobe Resigns
1818 - Charles Bulfinch Hired
1818 - Center Building Cornerstone Laid
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
1847 - Lantern Placed atop Capitol Dome
1851 - Thomas Ustick Walter Appointed
1851 - Library Burns, Again
1865 - Edward Clark Appointed
1867 - Official First use of Title "Architect of the Capitol"
1902 - Edward Clark Dies in Office
1902 - Elliot Woods Appointed
1921 - Elliot Woods Given Title Architect of the Capitol
1923 - Elliot Woods Dies in Office
1923 - David Lynn Appointed Architect of the Capitol
1971 - George M. White Named Architect of the Capitol
1997 - Alan M. Hantman Appointed
2010 - Stephen T. Ayers Nominated as Architect of the Capitol
1954 - J. George Stewart Appointed
1787 - Constitution Provides for a National Capital
1790 - Residence Act
1791 - Commissioners Appointed
1792 - Design Competition for Capitol Building Held
1804 - South Wing Plans Altered
1803 - Capitol's First Appropriation
1802 - Board of Commissioners Abolished
1801 - The "Oven" Constructed
1808 - North Wing Reconstruction Approved
1814 - Restoration Authorized
1817 - Congress Commissions Historical Paintings
1827 - Landscape Improvements
1827 - Congressional Privies Built
1828 - Gates and Guard Houses Built
1828 - Genius of America Unveiled
1829 - Bulfinch Retires
1830 - Washington's Tomb
1850 - Capitol Enlargement Funded
1853 - Library Reopens
1851 - Marble Selected for Extension
1853 - Engineer In Charge
1853 - Floorplans altered
1855 - Brumidi Paints First Fresco in Capitol
1855 - English Tiles Laid
1856 - First Occupant of the Capitol Extension
1859 - Dome Revisions
1859 - Meigs Replaced
1861 - Meigs Returns
1861 - Civil War Affects Construction
1861 - Army Occupies Capitol
1861 - Leutze’s Painting
1862 - Department of the Interior
1865 - Thomas U. Walter Retires
1867 - Capitol Extension Completed
1879 - Member’s Retiring Room
1884 - Terrace Construction
1885 - Electric Lighting Introduced
1898 - Gas Explosion
1900 - Former Library Space Rebuilt
1901 - Fireproof Roofs Installed
1904 - Senate Office Building Authorized
1905 - Rotunda Walls Cleaned
1816 - Revisions to North Wing Plan
1928 - Air Conditioning Arrives
1955 - East Front Extension Funds
1959 - East Front Cornerstone
1986 - Terrace Restoration and Courtyard Infill
2007 - Packard Campus
2007 - Alan Hantman Retires
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
1995 - George White Retires
2011 - Bartholdi Fountain Returns
2011 - Union Square added to Capitol Grounds
2013 - Rosa Parks Statue Joins U.S. Capitol Art Collection
2012 - Statue of Freedom Conservation
2013 - Frederick Douglass Statue
2010 - Stephen T. Ayers Appointed Architect of the Capitol
Jump into the Full Multimedia Virtual Campus