• The location for the Capitol was identified in 1791.
  • A competition was held for the design of the building. $500 prize money (nearly $14K today)! 17 people entered.  17 people had their designs roundly rejected.  The competition was closed.  That went well.
  • William Thornton, a Scottish physician, sent a letter alllll the way from the British West Indies begging to be allowed a chance to design the building even though the competition was concluded. His wish was granted, the design was submitted AND it was chosen.  (No word on if he got the prize money.
    Image 1: Dr. Thornton from the AOC.gov website
    Image 2: Dr. Thornton’s original design for the Capitol
    The dome ended up being much taller at the request of President James Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams.  Bullfinch, the architect carrying out the design at the time, was not happy with this as he thought it threw off the proportions of the building.