Snapshots of the Past

[Potomac River in foreground and dome of the U.S. Capitol in background, Washington, D.C.] – Antique Print

[Potomac River in foreground and dome of the U.S. Capitol in background, Washington, D.C.], [between 1900 and 1920] — historic photograph
[Potomac River in foreground and dome of the U.S. Capitol in background, Washington, D.C.], [between 1900 and 1920]. Historic photograph from the Washington DC collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

[Potomac River in foreground and dome of the U.S. Capitol in background, Washington, D.C.] comes to life in this historic photograph, reproduced from the original with every detail intact. An authentic image from the Library of Congress, it carries the weight of the real historical record.

The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. Perfect for a home, office, library or classroom wall, and a gift with a story behind it. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past, founded in 2001, has served tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

[Potomac River in foreground and dome of the U.S. Capitol in background, Washington, D.C.]

Order a print

Secure checkout · SSL encryptedPowered by Stripe and PayPal

Free shipping in the lower 48 states. The checkout page shows the picture, size and price before you pay.

Sign up for our newsletter

Sent securely. No purchase needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Ask about licensing or this print

The view here pairs the Potomac River in the foreground with the dome of the U.S. Capitol rising beyond it, a composition that ties the capital's working waterfront to its most recognizable civic landmark. The photograph dates from roughly 1900 to 1920, a period when the Potomac shoreline was still lined with wharves, docks, and small commercial craft that moved goods and passengers along the river. The Capitol dome, completed in its current cast-iron form in the 1860s, had by then become a symbol of the federal city, so placing it behind the river gives the scene a sense of commerce and government sharing the same skyline. Viewers interested in the period will find the contrast between the everyday river traffic and the monumental dome especially worth studying.

Created / published[between 1900 and 1920]
Medium1 photographic print.
GenrePhotographic prints 1900-1920.
SubjectsWaterfronts--Washington (D.C.)--1900-1920. Potomac River--1900-1920.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,536 × 1,081 px · prints to 5 × 4 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-168347

More from the Washington DC collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.

Related pictures

[U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. East elevation, low dome][U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. East elevation, low dome][U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. East elevation, low dome][U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. East elevation, low dome][United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. West elevation High Dome"]"[United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. West elevation High Dome"]"The dazzling dome of the Capitol on a rainy night, Washington, D.C.The dazzling dome of the Capitol on a rainy night, Washington, D.C.Capitol, Washington, D.C., north-east view. Dome and front unfinished, June 28, 1863.Capitol, Washington, D.C., north-east view. Dome and front unfinished, June 28, Washington and the Potomac [River] from Arlington, Washington, D.C.Washington and the Potomac [River] from Arlington, Washington, D.C.