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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The 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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The 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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Looking 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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Construction 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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Participants 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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Washington, 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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Architect 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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Capitol 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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Rotunda 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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The 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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