The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793


Dr. William Thornton
Portrait By George B. Matthews, 1930, after Gilbert Stuart	Design selected by President George Washington, 1793; appointed a commissioner of the federal city by President Washington, 1794, and served until 1802 DR. William Thornton +Read More During the first decade of work on the Capitol, three men were hired to oversee the construction.	During Thornton's tenure at the Capitol the north wing (shown in blue) was constructed.
B. Henry Latrobe
Portrait by George B. Matthews, 1931, after C. W. Peale	Hired by President Thomas Jefferson, March 6, 1803; construction halted by July 1, 1811 Hired by President James Madison, April 6, 1815 Resigned November 20, 1817 B. Henry Latrobe +Read More	Latrobe constructed the Capitol's south wing (shown in blue) as well as rebuilding the interior of the north wing.
Charles Bulfinch
Portrait by George B. Matthews, 1931, after 1842 drawing by Alvan Clark	Hired by President James Monroe and the Commissioner of Public Buildings, January 8, 1818 Office abolished June 25, 1829 Charles Bulfinch +Read More	Bulfinch constructed the Capitol's central section (shown in blue), including the Rotunda and the original dome.
Thomas Ustick Walter
Portrait by Francisco Pausas, 1925, after a Mathew Brady photograph	Appointed by President Millard Fillmore, June 11, 1851 Resigned May 26, 1865 Thomas Ustick Walter +Read More	Walter added the present north (Senate) and south (House) wings and the present cast-iron dome (shown in blue).
Edward Clark
Portrait by Constantino Brumidi	Appointed by President Andrew Johnson, August 30, 1865 Died in office, January 6, 1902 Edward Clark +Read More
Elliott Woods
Portrait by George B. Matthews, 1931	Appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt, February 19, 1902 Died in office May 22, 1923 Elliott Woods +Read More
David Lynn
Portrait by Charles J. Fox, 1954	Appointed by President Calvin Coolidge, August 22, 1923 Retired September 30, 1954 David Lynn +Read More
J. George Stewart
Portrait by Charles J. Fox	Appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower, October 1, 1954 Died in office May 24, 1970 J. George Stewart +Read More	Stewart oversaw the extension of the Capitol's east central front (shown in blue).
George M. White, FAIA
Portrait by William Draper, 1981	Appointed by President Richard Nixon, January 27, 1971 Retired November 21, 1995 George M. White, FAIA +Read More In the period following Mr. White's retirement, William L. Ensign, FAIA, served as the Acting Architect of the Capitol.
Alan M. Hantman, FAIA
Portrait by Michael Shane Neal, 2006	Appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton, January 6, 1997; confirmed by the Senate, January 30, 1997 Retired February 4, 2007 Mr. Hantman was the first Architect of the Capitol to be appointed under the new selection procedure established by legislation in 1989. Alan M. Hantman, FAIA +Read More