When the British marched into Washington D.C. in August of 1814, the U.S. Capitol was still under construction with the two wings connected by a wooden walkway. The British severely damaged the building, but it was not completely destroyed. Much of it was saved because the architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe had used fire-proof materials such as marble, sandstone and sheet iron. As soon as the fire was out, restoration began. Once again, Mr. Latrobe was hired to restore the two wings. The project was much more than basic restoration, Congress authorized many changes to the building's interior including eight new rooms in the north wing for Senate committees. Work at the capitol began in 1815, carving out and replacing the damaged stone around the windows and doors, and cleaning the smoke damage from the inside walls left intact. Work was moving slowly, as Latrobe infused the classical architecture of ancient Greece and Rome into his design plans. Latrobe also introduced new materials such as marble to form the exterior surfaces of floors, walls, columns and surfaces. Because of cost overruns and increasing pressure from both President Monroe and his supervisor Samuel Lane, Latrobe resigned in November of 1817.
A new architect was needed, and the project needed to be accelerated. In his first State of the Union, Monroe wrote to Congress with regret that the Capitol was not ready for them. The wisdom of the day is that Latrobe left because of conflicts between his desire to focus on design conflicting with Monroe's desire to get it completed as quickly as possible. Monroe's words here seem to confirm that. Here, the president was urging Congress treat the project one with national purpose. It had been three years since the buildings were destroyed, and still Congress and several Executive departments had to meet in private buildings "at some distance from the head". Monroe seems to suggest that there was no sense of urgency, and not much pride in the nation's capital. Had the spirit of this great nation been lost? It was there when the location between the "northern and southern extremes of our Union" was fist chosen. Now, Monroe, was asking Congress if they still had the spirit and wisdom of generation before them that had first begun to build a capital city worthy of this nation. Perhaps, they just needed a little encouragement to take the matter as one with national purpose.
"Although the progress of the public buildings has been as favorable as circumstances have permitted, it is to be regretted that the Capitol is not yet in a state to receive you. There is good cause to presume that the two wings, the only parts as yet commenced, will be prepared for that purpose at the next session. The time seems now to have arrived when this subject may be deemed worthy the attention of Congress on a scale adequate to national purposes. The completion of the middle building will be necessary to the convenient accommodation of Congress, of the committees, and various offices belonging to it.
It is evident that the other public buildings are altogether insufficient for the accommodation of the several Executive Departments, some of whom are much crowded and even subjected to the necessity of obtaining it in private buildings at some distance from the head of the Dep't, and with inconvenience to the management of the public business.
Most nations have taken an interest and a pride in the improvement and ornament of their metropolis, and none were more conspicuous in that respect than the ancient republics. The policy which dictated the establishment of a permanent residence for the National Government and the spirit in which it was commenced and has been prosecuted show that such improvement was thought worthy the attention of this nation. Its central position, between the northern and southern extremes of our Union, and its approach to the west at the head of a great navigable river which interlocks with the Western waters, prove the wisdom of the councils which established it.
Nothing appears to be more reasonable and proper than that convenient accommodation should be provided on a well-digested plan for the heads of the several Departments and for the Attorney-General, and it is believed that the public ground in the city applied to these objects will be found amply sufficient. I submit this subject to the consideration of Congress, that such further provision may be made in it as to them may seem proper."
One month after the address was delivered, Charles Bulfinch, a prominent architect from Boston was appointed as Latrobe's successor. By 1819, the Capitol was ready for both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court. The last pat of the building including the copper-covered wooden dome was completed in 1826 and decoration and landscaping in 1829.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29459
https://www.aoc.gov/blog/burning-capitol-during-war-1812
https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/exhibitions/timeline/rebuilding-after-war-1812
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/rebuilding-the-white-house-and-u-s-capitol
https://www.aoc.gov/history-us-capitol-building
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