Snapshots of the Past

Skeleton of new dome on U.S. Capitol – Historic Reproduction

Skeleton of new dome on U.S. Capitol, [between ca. 1852 and ca. 1860] — historic photograph
Skeleton of new dome on U.S. Capitol, [between ca. 1852 and ca. 1860]. Historic photograph from the U.S. Capitol 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

This rare historic photograph captures Skeleton of new dome on U.S. Capitol in remarkable detail. The original is held by the Library of Congress, so what you hang is a true record of its time.

Choose the framed print, ready to hang the day it arrives, or the unframed print for a frame of your own. It makes a striking addition to a living room, study or office, and a thoughtful gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Since 2001, Snapshots of the Past has shipped historic prints to tens of thousands of customers around the world.

Skeleton of new dome on U.S. Capitol

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The skeleton of the Capitol's cast-iron dome rises above the building here, its ribs and framework still exposed before the outer shell and sheathing were added. Work on the dome began in the early 1850s, when the original wooden dome was replaced with a larger iron structure designed by Thomas U. Walter, and the project ran through the end of the decade. Because the dome was built in stages, photographs like this one capture a rare moment when the lattice of iron was visible against the sky, showing the engineering that would support the familiar crowned profile seen today.

Created / published[between ca. 1852 and ca. 1860]
Medium1 photographic print.
NotesThis record contains unverified data from caption card.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan932 × 1,536 px · prints to 3 × 5 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-160374

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