U.S. Treasury under construction

Historic photo of construction of the Treasury building, ca. 1842. It was initially designed by Robert Mills and later expanded by Thomas U. Walter and others. The impressive Greek Revival colonnade was likely intended to convey an image of timeless strength for the building housing the financial and monetary activities of the government. Mills's south portico (not visible here) looks down the long sweep of Pennsylvania Avenue to Thomas U. Walter's cast iron Capitol dome.