Month: November 2022

Part 4(a) continued – The East Plaza, Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

November 29, 2022

Near the granite lamp-piers are a pair of bronze fountains which sit in the center of red, Passamaquoddy granite planters, each measuring 30′ x 40′. The bronze fountains were designed as rectangular pedestal bowl with rounded ends, also known as a capsule shape. Though the bold shape is quite impressive, the stacked layers of ornament … More Part 4(a) continued – The East Plaza, Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

Part 4(a) – The East Plaza, Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

November 24, 2022

While Thomas Wisedell was busy preparing the map of Olmsted’s plan in the summer and fall of 1874, he was also designing the architectural features for the plaza on the east side of the Capitol building. During that period, existing buildings were removed and work had begun on regrading the property and laying gas and … More Part 4(a) – The East Plaza, Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

Part 4 – The Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

November 18, 2022

In March of 1873, Congress voted to extend the size of the grounds surrounding the U. S. Capitol building and  Edward Clark, the Architect of the Capitol, was asked to design a plan for the expanded grounds. Clark immediately declined, stating, “not having any practice or pretensions to skill as landscape gardener, I earnestly recommend … More Part 4 – The Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

Part 3(a) still continued– The 1876 Centennial Exposition

November 16, 2022

Besides the architectural competition for the Centennial Exposition, Thomas Wisedell had also designed a Jacobean/ Early Georgian style sideboard which was carved and constructed by the firm Ellin & Kitson and displayed with contemporary furniture at the fair. It was Robert Ellin’s firm who had also carved the stonework at the Concert Grove in Prospect … More Part 3(a) still continued– The 1876 Centennial Exposition

Part 3(a) continued– The 1876 Centennial Exposition

November 13, 2022

Though Thomas Wisedell and James Farnsworth were unsuccessful with their entry for the Centennial Exposition competition, Calvert Vaux and George Kent Radford were chosen as one of ten architectural firms invited into the second round. During the first round, Vaux & Radford had created an ingenious plan of twenty-one interconnected, square pavilions, each measuring about … More Part 3(a) continued– The 1876 Centennial Exposition