Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Unknown The capitol in the distance, from the Smithsonian towers. [2745]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05111.01.0481 Author/Creator: Unknown Place Written: [s.l.] Type: Photograph negative Date: before 1863 Pagination: 1 glass negative 8 x 8.4 cm Order a Copy

Half stereocard size negative. Distant view of the capitol dome. Inscription on the old storage envelope by previous owner: "The capitol in the distance - before 1863 because the dome is unfinished - this photograph was taken from the tower of the Smithsonian Institute - shows the canal - the greenhouses in the distance on the west side of the capitol." With contact print. "2745" is scratched on the negative. Carte de visite versions of this image crop out the tower. LIMITED USE: USE COPY PRINT.

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