The Center and Heart of America: Political and Cultural Influence of the Capitol

The Capitol was an immediate popular success. Descriptions in travel accounts beginning in the 1810s often presented it as an accomplished fact, as did the earliest lithographs and engravings. As soon as Bulfinch's dome was raised, numerous engravings and color lithographs were printed of both facades, but the view from the west was most popular. Distant views of Capitol Hill seen from Pennsylvania Avenue or various elevated sites around the city were more popular in the 1830s and 1840s because they showed the newly planted trees that covered the grounds and provided a dark base upon which the white building seemed to float. Objects as diverse as Staffordshire pottery, jaquard coverlets, handboxes, embroidered pictures, and candelabra were created using these prints. Even sheet music covers for patriotic marches reproduced the early printed views of the Capitol.

View of Washington from Home of George Washington's Adopted Grandson Peder Anderson and Fitz Hugh Lane "View of the City of Washington," 1838 Color lithograph Prints and Photographs Division Library of Congress (223)

An Early Distant View of the Capitol August Kollner "West Front of the United States Capitol." New York: Goupil, Vibert, & Co., 1839 Lithograph Prints and Photographs Division Library of Congress (226)

Early Perspective Engraving Widely Published "Commercial Directory." J.C. Kayser, 1823 Engraving Prints and Photographs Division Library of Congress (229)

Copy of Lost Bulfinch Drawing of Completed Capitol H. and J. Stokes, after Charles Bulfinch "United States Capitol" The Jackson Wreath. Philadelphia: Jacob Maas, 1829, p. 87 Engraving in book Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (231)

Lithographs Replace Engravings for Prints of Capitol Charles Fenderich "Elevation of the Eastern Front of the Capitol of the United States," Washington: William Fischer, 1839 Lithograph Prints and Photographs Division Library of Congress (232)

Deceptive Close View of Capitol's West Front W.H. Bartlett "Ascent to the Capitol" Nathaniel P. Willis, American Scenery, vol. 1. London: Virtue, 1840, opp. p. 37 Engraving in book Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (235)

Most Widely Copied Early View of Capitol W.H. Bartlett "View of the Capitol at Washington" Nathaniel P. Willis, American Scenery, vol. 1. London: Virtue, 1840, frontispiece Engraving in book Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (237)

Wallpaper with Capitol Made Specifically to Decorate Boxes Bandbox with Wallpaper View of the Capitol, c. 1840 Cardboard and paper Courtesy J. and D. Louv, Mizzentop Farm Antiques (239)

Abolitionists Use Capitol as Rallying Point Thomas S. Sinclair "The Capitol March," 1850 Sheet music cover Prints and Photographs Library of Congress (243)

Henry Clay's Copy of Song Dedicated to Him Thomas S. Sinclair "The National Union," 1851 Sheet music cover Music Division Library of Congress (244)

Burning of Capitol Seen as Divine Judgement "A View of the Capitol of the United States After the Conflagration in 1814" Jesse Torrey, A Portraiture of Domestic Slavery in the United States. Philadelphia: Jesse Torrey, 1817, frontispiece Engraving in book Rare Book and Special Collections Division Library of Congress (246)

Psychology of the Unconscious Uses Capitol in Advertisement [Uneeda Biscuit Advertisement], c. 1900 Copyprint United States Senate Collection, Washington (258)

Capitol Functions as a "Seal of Approval" [Quaker Wheat Berries Advertisement], c. 1900 Copyprint Warshaw Collection National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution (260)

Plumbers to the U.S. Capitol [Durham System Advertisement], c. 1925 Copyprint United States Senate Collection, Washington (261)

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