Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) recognized the anniversary of George Washington laying the cornerstone to the U.S. Capitol Building on Thursday.
“On this day in 1793, President George Washington crossed the Potomac River where he was met by brass bands, an artillery company, and a delegation of Freemasons. Together, they paraded from the construction site of the White House to the construction site of the Capitol building, where he laid the cornerstone to the U.S. Capitol, this country’s most iconic feature,” Miller noted. “Every time I see our Capitol, it reminds me why I’m here and what a great country this is. I look up at the dome and see democracy, freedom, and the values that define this nation and make it the best democracy in the world. It is, truly, the People’s House.”
Washington laid the cornerstone in the building’s southeast corner on Sept. 18, 1793. Work progressed under the direction of three architects. Today’s capitol is the result of several major periods of construction.
“… Like America, it has a great story to tell,” Miller said. “Its construction even continues today as its dome, at 150 years of age, undergoes a major restoration project that will help ensure it remains a beacon of America’s democracy.”