“Perspective View of a Design for Enlarging the U.S. Capitol,” by Thomas U. Walter, 1850 (never built)

The Capitol had been completed for only 24 years before the Senate found it necessary to stage a design competition for its enlargement.  Thomas U. Walter, a prominent Philadelphia architect, submitted this design that called for expanding the building eastward into the spacious front garden.  Although this design did not win the competition, President Millard Fillmore later appointed Walter architect of the Capitol extension based on an entirely different design concept.

Architect of the Capitol