How They Built the World’s Most Famous Landmarks

The construction story of the U.S. Capitol building spans nearly a century. George Washington laid the first cornerstone in 1793, but the building we see today took shape over many decades. This photo captures a pivotal moment: the construction of the massive cast-iron dome between 1855 and 1866. President Lincoln insisted that the work continue right through the Civil War, seeing the rising dome as a powerful symbol of the nation’s enduring unity. It was finally finished in 1868.