Identifier: storyofwashingto00todd (find matches)
Title: The story of Washington, the National Capital
Year: 1889 (1880s)
Authors: Todd, Charles Burr, 1849-
Subjects: White House (Washington, D.C.) United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
Publisher: New York London : G.P. Putnam's Sons : Knickerbocker Press
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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re arabesque designs andpanels and medallions of Raleigh, Columbus, Cabot,and La Salle, and above the entrance doors in oblongpanels are designs in alto-relievo representing theLanding of the Pilgrims, and other events of nationalimportance. The most noticeable feature of theRotunda, however, is the series of paintings byAmerican artists set in panels around the walls.The first, by John Vanderlyn, has for its subjectthe Landing of Columbus at San Salvador ; the sec-ond, by William H. Powell, represents the Discov-ery of the Mississippi by De Soto, May, 1541 ; thethird, by John G. Chapman, the Baptism of Poca-hontas, 1613; and the fourth, by Robert W. Weir,the Embarkation of the Pilgrims from Delft Havenin Holland, July 21, 1620. The other four paintingsrelate to the Revolutionary War, and are the workof John Trumbull, himself an eye-witness of thescenes portrayed. This artist was the son of Jona-than Trumbull, Connecticuts famous war gov-ernor, and served for some time on the staff of
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THE ROTUNDA. 203 204 THE STORY OF IVA SHINGTON: General Washington. These paintings have there-fore a special historic value, all of the many dis-tinguished men portrayed in them being taken fromlife. The first of the series is entitled Signing of theDeclaration of Independence, 1776. The second, Surrender of General Burgoyne, Saratoga, October17, 1777. The third, *Surrender of Lord Corn-wallis at Yorktown, October 19, 1781. The fourthand last, Resignation of General Washington atAnnapolis, December 23, 1783. A door on the east side of the Rotunda givesadmittance to a lobby, where one finds a circular ironstairway leading to the summit of the dome. Roundand round the great iron structure it winds, the peo-ple below growing smaller and smaller as one as-cends, and Brumidis divinities on the canopy draw-ing nearer, until at last one passes through the shellof the dome, and is on the exterior, with the greatspherical roof rising above. Creeping over this,one comes out at last upon the th

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