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Bird’s-Eye View of Washington, from the Capitol

Page from Illustrated News, March 12, 1853, with a black and white print titled, “Bird's-Eye View of Washington, from the Capitol,” showing visitors and trees on the Capitol grounds in the foreground and streets and buildings in the distance/tiles/collection/3/33073.xml
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Page from Illustrated News, March 12, 1853, with a black and white print titled, “Bird's-Eye View of Washington, from the Capitol,” showing visitors and trees on the Capitol grounds in the foreground and streets and buildings in the distance
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Date

1853-03-12

Artist

William Rickarby Miller

Publication

[New York] Illustrated News

Publisher

P. T. (Phineas Taylor) Barnam

Dimensions

10 9/16 × 15 11/16 in. (26.8 × 39.8 cm)

Accession Number

2020.015.000

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

P.T. Barnum, of circus fame, was a publisher of the short-lived Illustrated News, which printed 48 weekly issues in 1853 before folding. During its brief run, the periodical gave its readers several large images of Washington, DC, on the occasion of Franklin Pierce’s inauguration as President. While the paper reported that “a snowstorm prevailed during the morning” of the event, this illustration of the view from the Capitol gives a summery feel to the city, with leafy trees and gentlemen strolling coatless across the grassy grounds.

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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov