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Bird's-eye View from U.S. Capitol, Washington Stereoview

Stereoview with two nearly identical black and white photographs of an aerial view looking northwest from the Capitol, showing curving paths and buildings, arranged side by side on mauve cardboard, titled “Bird's-eye View from U.S. Capitol, Washington”/tiles/collection/3/32563.xml
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Reverse of stereoview/tiles/collection/2/20498.xml
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Stereoview with two nearly identical black and white photographs of an aerial view looking northwest from the Capitol, showing curving paths and buildings, arranged side by side on mauve cardboard, titled “Bird's-eye View from U.S. Capitol, Washington”
Reverse of stereoview
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Date

1878-1881

Manufacturer

American Stereoscopic Company

Dimensions

3 1/2 × 7 in. (8.9 × 17.8 cm)

Accession Number

2016.121.000

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

Visitors to Washington in the late 1800s often brought home images of the impressive view from the pinnacle of the Capitol dome. This stereoview showed the northwest quadrant of the city. In the foreground, curving paths and saplings mark the nascent Frederick Law Olmsted landscaping plan for the Capitol. Beyond, the developing city expands outward. Lumber and coal yards are just across the street and on either side of First Street NW. Broad Indiana Avenue extends to the left, reaching to the pale stone façade of City Hall in the upper left corner of the photograph.

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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