Beginning in 2013, the Architect of the Capitol began an enormous restoration of the dome of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, the restoration was completed, at a cost of $59.5 million. More than a thousand cracks were repaired, interior and exterior decorations scraped, cleaned, and restored, and 1,215 gallons of paint were used to repaint the exterior. Collected here are some images from the 1860s when the current dome was originally built, some images of the recent restoration process, and a few shots of the newly-restored structure.
The Restoration of the United States Capitol Dome
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Read moreThe Interior of the recently restored US Capitol dome is shown during a tour, on November 15, 2016 in Washington, DC. #
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Read moreThe United States Capitol Building in 1846. The cornerstone for this structure was laid in 1793. The building here still had its original copper-clad dome completed in 1818. The newer, current cast-iron dome replaced the old one in the 1860s. Also note, the large House and Senate wings had not yet been added to the left and right of the main building. Those were completed in the 1850s. #
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Read moreThe west front of the Capitol Dome under construction in July of 1861. In the foreground is part of the old Washington City Canal, which connected Tiber Creek with the Potomac River. #
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Read moreEast Front of Capitol Dome under construction, circa 1860. #
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Read moreHauling a fluted cast-iron column shaft for the peristyle of the Dome from the train station to the Capitol work yard in November of 1856. #
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Read moreA view of the new dome, under construction, viewed from the Senate (north wing) roof, looking south, August 12, 1857. #
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Read moreLooking southeast down Pennsylvania Avenue showing first row of columns on the Dome. Not dated but photo taken about 1858. google Street View of this scene today, here. #
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Read moreMarble cutters work the monoliths. Construction at U.S. Capitol, 1860. #
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Read moreConstruction at U.S. Capitol, including African American workmen with a column named in the photograph to recognize Abraham Lincoln's election as president on November 6, 1860. #
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Read moreParticipants and crowd at the first inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln, at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 1861. Lincoln is standing under the wood canopy, at the front, midway between the left and center posts. His face is in shadow but the white shirt front is visible. The scaffolding at upper right was being used in construction of the Capitol dome. #
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Read moreNortheast view of the Capitol Dome, still unfinished on June 28, 1863. #
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Read moreWashington, DC, in April of 1865 (or 1863). A bird's-eye view of the Smithsonian Institution building in the near distance with the Capitol building in the background. #
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Read moreArchitect of the Capitol Rigger, Al Ports (on right in black vest / cigar), and other AOC employees take a self-portrait (note string in hand of individual all in white) 288 ft above the East Front of the Capitol while preserving the Statue of Freedom in 1913. #
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Read moreBird's-eye View of the Capitol on December 15, 2014 . #
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Read moreCapitol Dome restoration, early October 2014. Deterioration and wear is visible on the facade as scaffolding is erected that will reach, and eventually cover, the entire Capitol Dome enabling restoration work. #
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Read moreRestoration work takes place in the space between the Capitol's interior and exterior domes. #
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Read moreA conservator works on restoring a painting in the Senate reception area at the US Capitol on September 28, 2013 in Washington. #
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Read moreA protective canopy in place above the Rotunda in May of 2014. #
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Read moreStone Damage on the Senate Extension. A worker removes bird wire and anchors from the Progress of Civilization pediment. #
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Read moreScaffolding erected during the final painting phase of the Dome Restoration Project, in December of 2015. #
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Read moreWorkers use a neutralizing solution to remove remaining layers of paint during the Rotunda Interior Restoration in January of 2016. #
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Read morePaint is removed from cast iron in the Rotunda in June of 2016. #
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Read moreWorkers stand on the scaffolding that surrounds the dome of the US Capitol on November 17, 2015 in Washington, DC. #
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Read moreThe final painting phase of the Dome Restoration Project begins in March of 2016. #
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Read moreCapitol Dome Restoration October 2015, close look at cast iron detail. #
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Read moreRotunda Interior Restoration Work, June 2016 U.S. Capitol rotunda restoration work includes removing hazardous materials (such as lead paint), restoring ironwork, upgrading electrical and mechanical systems, installing new lighting and repainting to historically appropriate colors. #
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Read moreInterior stairs leading to the newly-restored interior dome at the US Capitol on November 15, 2016. #
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Read moreShane Gallagher, construction manager at the Architect of the Capitol, poses inside the newly-restored Capitol dome on November 15, 2016. #
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Read moreThe Frieze of American History in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol contains a painted panorama approximately 300 feet in circumference, depicting significant events in American history. #
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Read moreThe Rotunda of the US Capitol is seen from the newly-restored Capitol Dome on November 15, 2016. #
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Read moreThe old House Chamber, designated as the National Statuary Hall by President Lincoln in July of 1864. #
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Read moreInterior supports between the newly-restored exterior Capitol Dome and the interior dome photographed on November 15, 2016. #
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Read moreThe restored U.S. Capitol Dome, photographed in November of 2016. #
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