"No. 2 of Saml. Dobie invt & del. For a Capitol to be built in the City of Washington," by Samuel Dobie, ink and ink washes on paper, 1792

A competition was held to design the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Some of the entries in the competition incorporated the kind of architectural features that President George Washington was hoping for, such as domes and grand porticoes, but none were able to achieve the imposing grandeur he also wanted. Dobie’s entry was among the better ones submitted, but still failed to win the president’s approval.

Image ID# 1976.88.40, Courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society