Jenkins Hill 1846-1855

Library of Congress

This un-attributed painting is one of many depicting early Washington DC. Looking from the southeast, you can see the United States Capitol on the right and the White House in the background. The Capitol design, first photographed in 1846, would change several more times before reaching what we see today. At the far left, on what would become the Smithsonian Mall, you can see the Smithsonian Castle, built between 1846-1855. The painting is thought to have been created or published between 1846 and 1855.