Treasury Department Building Under Construction
9/16/1861
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This photograph shows construction crews moving a pillar into place in 1861 during construction of the west wing of the oldest Federal departmental building in Washington, DC. In 1836, Congress authorized construction of a fireproof building to house the Treasury Department, after earlier buildings had been destroyed by fire. The Ionic columns of this Greek Revival building were quarried on Dix Island, near Rockland, Maine, and are 36 feet tall, weigh 30 tons, and cost $5,000 each.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Public Buildings Service.
National Archives Identifier: 598767
Full Citation: Photograph 121-BC-9A; Photograph of the Treasury Department Building Under Construction; 9/16/1861; Photographs of Federal and Other Buildings in the United States, 1857 - 1942; Records of the Public Buildings Service, Record Group 121; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/treasury-building-construction, April 20, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.