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United States Capitol Dome Drawings

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Creator
Walter, Thomas Ustick, 1804-1887
Collector
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of History of Technology
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Work and Industry
Names
United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
Topic
Domes
Architecture -- Washington (D.C.)
Provenance
This collection was purchased in 1984 by the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, National Museum of American History (then called the National Museum of History and Technology), from Walter Grossman.
Creator
Walter, Thomas Ustick, 1804-1887
See more items in
United States Capitol Dome Drawings
Summary
The collection consists of 146 salt-paper prints (structural and decorative details) of the United States Capitol Dome, between 1855 and 1862. Dimensions range from 6 ¾" x 9 ½" to 17 1/8" x 10".
Biographical / Historical
The United State Capitol dome is situated above the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The Capitol dome was designed by Thomas Ustick Walter (1804-1887), the fourth Architect of the Capitol. Walter was responsible for adding the north (Senate) and south (House) wings and the central dome of the Capitol from 1854 to 1866. The original dome, built in 1824, was made of wood. It was considered a fire hazard and was not big enough to complement the Capitol building's growing size.[1] [1] http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/dome.cfm (accessed on April 9, 2010)
Extent
0.3 Cubic feet ( 1 box)
Date
1855-1862
Custodial History
Transferred in 2007 to the Archives Center from the Division of Work and Industry (formerly the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering).
Archival Repository
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier
NMAH.AC.1010
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Salted paper prints
Copy photographs
Citation
United States Capitol Dome Drawings, dates, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into one series. Series 1, United States Capitol Dome Drawings, 1855-1862
Processing Information
Kendra Ciccone (intern), April, 2010; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist.
Rights
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Genre/Form
Salted paper prints
Copy photographs
Existence and Location of Originals
The original drawings exist in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol. See: http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/dome.cfm.
Scope and Contents
The collection is comprised of 146 salt print photographic copies of original drawings of the United States Capitol dome. Salt print paper was the first and most common photo paper between 1839 and 1860. The prints document both structural and decorative details of the dome. The prints are arranged in chronological order.
Restrictions
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at [email protected] or 202-633-3270.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1503512078134-1503512078139-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep85ee8404a-c24d-40e9-8788-1434c8692044

In the Collection

Pages

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  • United States Capitol Dome Drawings

  • Elevation of new dome

  • Section through dome

  • Tholus on dome of United States Capitol

  • Elevation of dome of U.S. Capitol

  • Details of main cornice, interior order of dome

  • Ceiling of rotunda, one half of first panel

  • Skeleton of new dome

  • Details of inner dome

  • Details of upper part of cupola

  • Bottom plate under interior balustrade

  • Base of dome

  • Details of cupola of dome

  • Stairway beginning at floor of peristyle

  • Ceiling of rotunda rosette, below second panel

  • Brackets to support wall and columns of dome

  • Exterior and interior architraves over pilasters

  • Sketch showing the relative elevations of the designs for the new dome

  • Cross braces between pillars in drum of dome

  • Details of roof of cupola

  • Ribs of cupola, first section

  • Details of dome, inner vertical cross braces

  • Carriages stairway of drum

  • Section of new dome

  • Guiloche at top of Ceiling of Rotunda

  • Balustrade at top of inner dome

  • Podium of dome

  • Details of peristyle of dome

  • Details of roof of cupola

  • Ornament on top of inner dome

  • Ceiling of rotunda, one half of second panel

  • Cross braces between pillars in drum of dome

  • Plan and elevation of connecting plates

  • Details of dome, horizontal section through drum

  • Podium of dome

  • Ribs of cupola, fifth section

  • Ceiling of rotunda, lower horizontal band

  • Cross braces to connect the inner and outer entablature of dome

  • Ceiling of rotunda, one half of fifth panel

  • Details of stylobate of dome

  • Horizontal braces between main ribs

  • Section of tholus

  • Details of dome, horizontal and vertical cross braces

  • Ornament of pilasters of dome

  • Plan of bottom flanges

  • Details of dome gutters over peristyle

  • Exception in first section of main ribs

  • Pilaster capital

  • Details of peristyle of dome

  • Ceiling of rotunda, one half of fourth panel

  • Section of plan of stairway, in drum of dome

  • Untitled

  • Console under windows, colonnade of dome

  • Capital of columns of tholus

  • Side elevation of brackets above cornice of second story

  • Ceiling of rotunda rosette below first panel

  • Carriages stairway, in drum

  • Ceiling of rotunda rosette below third panel

  • Ribs of cupola, seventh section

  • Ceiling of rotunda rosette above fifth panel

  • Untitled (tholus)

  • Curved ribs of cupola with their stays and braces

  • Details of windows in peristyle of dome

  • Development of stairway through ribs of cupola

  • Details of rib to support ceiling of dome

  • Details of interior of new dome

  • Diagonal tie rods between main ribs

  • Ornament at spring of cupola

  • Exception in first section of main ribs

  • New dome derrick

  • Cross braces to connect the inner and outer entablature of dome

  • Main Ribs of cupola, eighth or upper section

  • Supports of face plates of base of dome

  • Curved ribs of cupola with their stays and braces

  • Details of dome, floor plates and balustrade on top of peristyle

  • Plan of dome

  • Details of second story of dome

  • Balustrade over columns of dome

  • Sections of ornament at spring of cupola

  • Pillars in drum of dome

  • Panel in ceiling of colonnade of dome

  • Cross braces connecting the entablature of the peristyle with the drum of the dome

  • Plans of bottom flanges pillars, drum of dome

  • Horizontal braces between main ribs

  • Design of scaffold around peristyle of dome

  • Detail of key of windows, interior of dome

  • Front elevation of brackets above cornice of second story

  • Railings across windows in stairway of dome

  • Plan of dome top of peristyle showing wrought iron tie plates

  • Ceiling of rotunda, third horizontal band

  • Development of stairway through ribs of cupola-upper part

  • Ribs of cupola, third section

  • Brackets attached to main ribs

  • Key of windows in colonnade of dome

  • Details of drum of dome

  • Details of cornice of second story

  • Details of paneling above peristyle

  • Details of peristyle of dome

  • Ceiling of rotunda, fourth horizontal panel

  • Details of dome, plates over windows in drum

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Elevation of new dome
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There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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