America's 250th Anniversary
The Intriguing Backstories Behind the US Capitol Dome Construction
As Capitol architect Thomas Walter feuded with its engineer Montgomery Meigs, President Abraham Lincoln saw the project as assuring continuity of the Union until victory in the Civil War.
Thomas Walter and Montgomery C. Meigs served as architect and engineer, respectively, of the US Capitol dome construction, which was completed in1866.
The U.S. Capitol, with its distinctive white double-shell cast-iron dome, is one of America's signature buildings that is recognized throughout the world. Completed in Washington, D.C., during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, it replaced the building's original copper-covered wood dome and the work became a symbol of the country's continuity during the Civil War.
The project also is noteworthy for the bitter dispute between its architect and engineer.
The original wooden dome, completed in 1824, had needed regular repairs and was a fire hazard. So Philadelphia architect Thomas U. Walter, who served as Architect of the Capitol from 1851 to 1865, designed a new dome as part of an expansion that added new wings to the legislative branch complex. The work took from 1854 to 1864.
Walter and Montgomery C. Meigs, a captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who served as principal superintendent of construction, together oversaw creation of the new dome.
It is "the most famous man-made landmark in America," states the current website of the Architect of the Capitol, from which much of the information in this story is sourced. It is the term used to describe both the federal legislative branch agency that maintains, operates, develops and manages historic preservation of the U.S. Capitol complex, and the person who heads it, currently Thomas E. Austin.
Walter's design of a new dome, with pilasters and windows and a crowning statue, was quickly approved by Congress and given $100,000. The final cost was much higher, but the funding enabled work to start.
Walter and Meigs feuded extensively and work slowed markedly in 1858 over their disagreements about the engineer's changes to the architect's design. At one point Walter held up payments to Meigs' drafting crew.
Looking for quick answers on construction and engineering topics?
Try Ask ENR, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask ENR →
The ill-will between the two was so strong that at one point in 1858, Walter accused Meigs of altering and taking credit for some of the original design work for the northern extension of the building.
The first dome of the U.S. Capitol, designed by Charles Bulfinch.
Image: Architect of the Capitol
"I observe by a photographic copy of my design of the principal story of the north wing of the Capitol extension, sent to me today," Walter wrote in a letter to Meigs, "that you have caused certain lettering to be put upon the drawing which implies that the revised plan was designed by you, which you well know was not the case."
The architect continued: "I also find that you have caused similar lettering to be put on my designs for the alterations of the original plans. I therefore respectfully request to have the said lettering removed and the drawings returned to my office."
Thomas U. Walter, the son of a mason, provided the architectural design for many important buildings, including the US Capitol dome, and feuded with its engineer Montgomery Meigs.
Photo (cropped): Mathew Brady/Library of Congress
Meigs also did not hide his feelings about Walter's accusations.
"I am not surprised at this move of Mr. Walter’s, except in its gross impudence," the engineer wrote. "While I know that he was speaking of this work to his friends as though it was his and under his sole control, I did not suppose that he would have the impudence—for I can call it by no other name—such gross assumption and falsehood, to make the claim to my face."
Meigs argued his side of the conflict to Jefferson Davis, who was then Secretary of War in the administration of President Franklin Pierce. Davis at that time was also in charge of the U.S. Capitol expansion and of new wings for the House and Senate.
According to the Capitol Visitors Center website, the new dome re-used the old rotunda walls as foundation. "Technical difficulties were easy to overcome compared to those of the Civil War," which broke out just six years after work started on the dome, it said.
Montogomery C. Meigs served for several years as the principal superintendent of construction for the U.S. Capitol expansion and new dome.
Photo: Library of Congress
William B. Franklin replaced Meigs as engineer in charge in 1859.
While work on the Capitol's new wings halted for awhile during the war, work on the dome never stopped.
Contractors persevered installing ironwork and Lincoln viewed the rising dome as a sign that the Union would continue despite the war, the Capitol website states. The Statue of Freedom was placed atop the dome in late 1863, and its interior, with its fresco by Constantine Brumidi that is 180 ft above the rotunda floor, was finally completed in 1866. The final cost of the dome was $1.047 million.
The building has endured as a symbol of American democracy and as an example of architectural and engineering excellence.
