Completed 40 years ago in May 1973, Chicago’s Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower) was the tallest building in the world, and still reigns as the tallest building in the United States, until the imminent completion of New York’s One World Trade Center.
NEW AMTRAK TURBOLINER…THE NEW SEARS TOWER IS SEEN ON THE SKYLINE. 06/1974
From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA Series
(More items from DOCUMERICA are currently on exhibit at the National Archives: “Searching for the Seventies: The DOCUMERICA Photography Project”)
Erecting the Capitol dome
Although President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol in 1793, construction of current dome did not begin until 1856. The dome, which replaced an earlier one made of copper and wood, took a decade to complete and cost just over one million dollars to build. This photograph was taken from the east side of the national
landmark on December 31, 1857.
Photograph of the Construction on the New U.S. Capitol Dome, 12/31/1857
via DocsTeach
United States Navy Memorial Dedication
Dedicated 25 years ago today, our neighbor, the United States Navy Memorial, opened on October 13, 1987.
An elevated view of the dedication ceremonies for the US Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue at Eighth Street, 10/13/1987
(If you’ve been to Washington lately, you’ll notice that the neighborhood around the National Archives looks quite a bit different now.)
Road trip? Don’t forget to pack a lunch (or breakfast, in this case)!
View of Ohio tourists having early breakfast on parking Area 460 to 463. The view is ahead (west), 07/21/1941 from the series Federal Highway Construction Photos, 1919 - 1971
(We think Papa would approve.)
November is Historic Bridge Awareness Month
Photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge Across the East River, 04/1974.
Series: DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern
Do you have a photo of a historic bridge you’d like to share, or one you like from our holdings? What’s your favorite bridge?
Dated November 2, 1934, this photograph shows progress on the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Construction on the building was started in September 1931.
On October 13, 1792 the cornerstone was laid during the construction of the White House.
September 30, 1935 - Hoover Dam Dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt
Five years of work, an average of 3,500 workers a day - here’s a look at the construction of the Hoover Dam.
Dated September 5, 1933, this photograph shows progress of the exterior framing of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Construction on the building was first started in September, 1931.
June 13, 1898 Photograph of Dredges
The photograph’s caption reads: “Dredges excavating canal trunck, mile 19, June 13, 1898.”
This photograph is from the series “Photographs of Works Relating to the Improvement of the Illinois and DesPlaines Rivers” from the Office of the Chief of Engineers at the War Department.
