Highlights

Medium
Bronze
Year
1893

When the Capitol's centennial was celebrated in 1893 it was decided to place a bronze tablet to mark the cornerstone's approximate location.

A spot at the southeast corner of the original Senate (or north) wing was selected for this tablet, because this wing was the first of the Capitol's many sections to be completed. It was therefore presumed that the cornerstone was laid in connection with that part of the building.

A marker was then later placed in a floor niche below the tablet.

The marker reads: "LAID MASONICALLY SEPT 17, 1932 IN COMMEMORATION OF THE LAYING IF THE ORIGINAL CORNERSTONE BY GEORGE WASHINGTON."

However, a second and more likely cornerstone location has been the subject of subsequent excavation and testing.

Read more about the U.S. Capitol's first cornerstone.