| Thomas Ustick Walter (1804-1887) won the commission to enlarge the United States Capitol in a competition orchestrated by President Millard Fillmore in 1851. This building project included the design and construction of a pair of massive wings and, later, an enormous iron dome. It is notable in many ways, especially in American architectural history, as the largest construction project for a single building ever attempted in the country at the time.; The building technology used to construct the wings and dome was the most advanced in North America. The extensive use of iron in the roof systems of the wings and in the dome was an innovation, as were the new heating and ventilation systems and the extensive use of gas for lighting. Sophisticated, complex strategies used to transport vast quantities of marble, brick, iron, and other building materials over long distances were employed for the first time on the Capitol's enlargement. Another innovative contribution was unexpected: The interior of the original Library of Congress burned six months after Walter took office, allowing him to design a unique replacement--the first fireproof all-iron library room in the world.; Four principal subjects underlie this study of the creation of the United States Capitol as the national emblem we know today. First, one learns about the construction of a major building of the mid-nineteenth century: the general logistics of the building process, the transportation and testing of building materials, and the day-to-day role of laborers and craftsmen working on the project. Second, one views Walter's role as the Capitol's architect and superintendent of construction. The Capitol's enlargement proved Walter's contention that the architect was an important professional figure, rather than the intellectually, technically, and academically inferior individual as defined by American engineers. Corrupt politics, including graft and spoils system, along with the disruptions of the Civil War, directly affected many stages of the Capitol's development. Walter's conduct in dealing with these issues reinforced his role in developing professional standards for architectural practice in the United States. Third, one can see the Capitol emerge during its enlargement as an icon or symbol of the Union. This phenomenon is traced in the discussion of how the Civil War affected Capitol construction. Not only was Walter's Capitol dome by far the largest in North America, it rivaled any in Europe in size. It came to symbolize the federal government and its permanence because of the enormous publicity given its construction during the Civil War. Fourth, the study provides a detailed account of the decoration of the Capitol under the direction of Montgomery C. Meigs and its influence. |
