The city. Scott, coauthor of buildings of the district of spoke at a e symposium at the White House Historical association, u. S. Society and rical James Madisons montpelier. Hour. Poke for about an thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker will be pamela scott, and pam is an old friend. I have known her for many, many years, and she is, i think, the authority on the history of public buildings in washington, d. C. She has been an architectural historian here in washington specializing in the architectural landscape and planning histories of the city and i have learned a tremendous amount from her over the years. Some of her books include the temple of liberty, buildings of the district of columbia, designing the nations capit capitol, and the fortress of finance, and pam is going to talk about Benjamin Henry latrobes work at the capitol. And, of course, latrobe is also the architect of Decatur House and st. Johns across the square, and so hopefully youll learn a great deal about this arc
Government buildings at york, canada. Perhaps only one government building and perhaps not the American Army after all. This provided the burning of the public buildings provided opponents of the location with an opportunity to argue for removal without having to did he mean the city. During the month prior to convening of congress in late september 1814, residents expressed fears that the opponents of the city might prevail. Washington socialite eliz a, granddaughter of washington, went so far as to accuse secretary of war john armstrong, jr. , of allowing the british to capture the city in order to give ammunition to those who wished to move from the potomac and win himself Political Support in what might have been upcoming campaign. The 13th congress reconvened in the Patent Office on september 19th. While members talked privately about the possibility of an immediate removal, president James Madison assured them that the buildings were only the burning of the buildings were only a
Baltimore, charleston, South Carolina, and a dozen other places are going to vote federal funds to build wharfs and other facilities in alexandria. So that money is not available. Alexandria begins to decline. As a transatlantic commercial center. Fortunately its going to become a railroad center, et cetera. Those petitions to retrocede the town or actually all of the district on the virginia side of the river, those pegs started very early. They were never effective until George Washington park tried to give up protecting the dream of his grandfather for 100 square miles. When he signed in 1846, bingo, the legislation flew through congress. In his first, i think, speech to congress, address to congress, president clinton called on congress to take back those 37 square miles and reincorporate them into the district. Obviously it didnt happen. Yes . Not mention s word, slavery. Of course, washington was probably the largest american slave trading city prior to 1850. How much did slavery
Chenoweth in two images here based on latrobes description. By her side stands the American Eagle supporting her left hand in which is the cap of liberty. Her right presents a scroll, the constitution of the united states, her foot treads upon a reversed crown on as a footstool and upon other emblems of monarchy and bondage. Franzoni also carved a spread winged eagle in the entrance. Its wings spread 12 feet, 6 inches in breadth. Four relief panels opposite the eagle were personifications representing agriculture, art, science and commerce. All were ruined in the fire but some vague outlines of horizontally oriented figures are discernible on latrobes 1815 sketch of the burnt colonnade. They suggest latrobe designed these based on the tower winds. When latrobe planned the sculpture for the second House Chamber, he resurrected his 1810 athena liberty. Franzoni made him enlarged in plaster and placed above the speakers chamber. Latrobes final figure of liberty holds the unfurled constitu
Finance, and pam is going to talk about Benjamin Henry latrobes work at the capitol. And, of course, latrobe is also the architect of Decatur House and st. Johns across the square, and so hopefully youll learn a great deal about this architectural genius this afternoon and enjoy the house tonight at the reception. Thank you. Come on, pam. [ applause ] thank you very much, bill. Your friendship over the years has meant a great deal to me as well. I want to add my thanks to the many, many thanks to the people who have organized this wonderful symposium. I have learned so much and have enjoyed it so much and im sure that we all feel that way about what is almost over but still ongoing. Today im talking about Benjamin Henry latrobes capitol. I am an architectural historian, and i hope that i have watered down a little bit of my rhetoric enough so that i can understandable to you all. The burning of the capitol on august 24th, 1814, was a are pref rather than a disaster for Benjamin Henry l