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The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
Bathed in the soft glow of dusk, the historic headquarters of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) stands proudly at the intersection of 17th Street and Rhode Island Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. A landmark of advocacy and architecture alike, this Romanesque Revival stone mansion commands attention with its turreted tower, arched windows, and intricate stonework. The warm interior lighting glows through large ground-floor windows, casting an inviting radiance onto the street, while pink blossoms along the sidewalk soften the bold stone façade with a flourish of springtime color.
A vibrant rainbow crosswalk and pride banners further signal this building’s cultural significance. As the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States, the Human Rights Campaign has transformed this stately 19th-century residence into a symbol of inclusion, progress, and resilience. Originally designed as a private mansion, the building’s distinctive architectural details—including its cylindrical turret, decorative cornices, and red slate roof—exemplify the enduring grandeur of Washington’s Dupont and Logan Circle neighborhoods.
This image captures the intersection of history and hope—where classic architecture meets modern social justice. Whether you're drawn in by the commanding beauty of the stone structure or the quiet dignity of its mission, this building reminds us how far the LGBTQ+ movement has come—and how rooted it remains in community.
At the corner of Independence Avenue and 3rd Street SW in Washington, D.C., the Hubert H. Humphrey Building stands as one of the most distinctive—and polarizing—examples of federal Brutalist architecture. Designed by Hungarian-born modernist architect Marcel Breuer, the building was completed in 1977 and named in honor of Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, a champion of civil rights and public health. It houses the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), an agency that evolved from the original Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
This hulking concrete structure embodies the Brutalist ethos: raw concrete (béton brut), dramatic geometry, and fortress-like massing. The repetitive modular façade—composed of sculptural precast concrete window hoods—casts deeply recessed shadows that change throughout the day, creating an ever-evolving play of light and form. Breuer’s distinctive use of triangulated surfaces and exaggerated cantilevers gives the building a sense of heavy monumentality while allowing for unexpected nuance and rhythm in the fenestration.
While often criticized for its austere and imposing aesthetic, the Humphrey Building remains an enduring representation of the era’s civic architectural ambition—meant to project governmental strength and permanence during a time of post-Watergate disillusionment. Breuer, best known for his contributions to the Bauhaus and his design of the Whitney Museum in New York, brought a humanist touch to Brutalism. The building's pilotis—elevating it above the ground—were intended to create openness and flow at street level, though tight security measures today limit public access.
Located within the heart of the Capitol complex, the building’s design has become a flashpoint in debates over the future of federal architecture. While some advocate for its preservation as a masterwork of late modernism, others view it as a relic best replaced with more "classically inspired" forms.
Regardless of aesthetic preference, the Hubert H. Humphrey Building is a significant artifact in the narrative of 20th-century American government architecture. It’s a monument to a particular moment in U.S. history—one shaped by the Great Society, by expanding social programs, and by bold (if controversial) ideas about what government buildings should look like.
The old Police, Fire and Ambulance staion on the junction of London Road, Fairfield Street and Whitfield Street in the city centre of Manchester.
Completed in 1906, this grade II* listed building designed by Woodhouse, Willoughby and Langham, whilst containing the three main emergency services, also housed a bank, domestic dwellings for the servicemen, a coroners court, bank and gas-meter testing station, which was in operation for eighty years.
Following closure, as maintenance costs soared, the building went through a raft of proposals for change of use after purchase by Britannia Hotels who recently sold the building. It is now to be developed for mixed use, hotel, leisure facilities, apartments, bars, restaurants and cinema.
It's certyainly an imposing sight.
This building is on the English Heritage at risk register, details of which can be found here: historicengland.org.uk/advice/heritage-at-risk/search-reg...
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
I haven't hit anything over the head with this much Photoshop in quite a while.
I've been getting a lot of pleasure from what purists might call 'actual' photography - using the light that's there, waiting for that moment when it all comes together, and often shooting film on an ancient analogue Nikon FE - or at least aiming to get exactly what I want straight out of the camera digitally.
However, sometimes it's equally nice to roll out the post-processing to hyper-realist levels...at least I think!
This was shot whilst testing a 28mm f/1.8 as mentioned in the shot before - but this one is using that lens. A cracker for the money.
Tech - D800/28mm f/1.8 @ f/1.8. Handheld 5 exposure HDR, rinsed through Photomatix and then significantly pushed around in Photoshop.
National Gallery - which is amazing - details here.
A soaring view of the Library of Congress's Thomas Jefferson Building reveals the astonishing grandeur of its stained glass skylight and richly decorated ceiling. This image captures the view straight up into the heart of the Main Hall’s upper reaches, where Renaissance Revival splendor meets American optimism. The meticulously designed skylight—composed of nine intricately patterned stained glass panels—floods the hall below with diffused natural light, filtered through deep blues, pale greens, and soft amber hues arranged in dazzling floral rosettes. Each pane is framed in classical molding and bordered with coffered recesses, lending the ceiling architectural depth and rhythmic balance.
Surrounding the skylight is an explosion of Gilded Age ornamentation. Vibrant murals adorn the curved lunettes, where allegorical figures, winged cherubs, and classical motifs dance amidst scrolls and garlands. Dominated by deep greens, ochres, and golds, the painted ceiling panels feature lavish symbolism, including cornucopias, lyres, doves, and open books—visual metaphors celebrating knowledge, abundance, and the arts. Painted inscriptions, winged figures, and decorative medallions emphasize themes of enlightenment and civic virtue. These decorations, executed under the direction of the master artist Edwin Howland Blashfield and other artisans of the 1890s, elevate the room into a temple of American intellectual achievement.
The photograph’s strong vertical composition draws the eye directly into the stained glass skylight, flanked by fluted pilasters and Corinthian capitals that hint at the structure's monumental scale. The clarity of the glasswork, combined with the warmth of the muraled soffits and barrel vaults, illustrates the harmonious integration of architecture and fine art—a defining characteristic of the Beaux-Arts style.
Built between 1890 and 1897, the Thomas Jefferson Building was conceived as a showcase of American progress and democratic ideals. The ceiling’s opulence was never meant to intimidate but to inspire: to suggest that every citizen had the right to knowledge, learning, and beauty. In that spirit, the murals, stained glass, and ornamentation are not just decorative—they’re didactic, layered with meaning and designed to educate every visitor who looks up.
Today, this ceiling remains one of the most photographed and admired architectural features in Washington, D.C. Whether visited by scholars, tourists, or architectural enthusiasts, it serves as a reminder of the nation's commitment to culture and civic literacy. The interplay of light, art, and symbolism in this space continues to evoke awe—a testament to the enduring power of public architecture done right.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
The clean, modernist lines of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History stand in quiet contrast to the lively stories housed within. Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., this museum preserves and presents the rich tapestry of American life—from the original Star-Spangled Banner to Dorothy’s ruby slippers, from presidential artifacts to pop culture icons.
This photo captures the museum’s north-facing facade, featuring polished marble panels and a recessed portico that stretches across its monumental elevation. Vertical banners flank the entrance, highlighting the museum’s vibrant rotating exhibitions. The tiered steps and dry fountain in the foreground are part of the museum’s adjacent plaza and amphitheater area, offering a place of reflection in the heart of the capital.
Designed by McKim, Mead & White associate Walker Cain and completed in 1964, the building originally opened as the Museum of History and Technology. Its stripped Classical style aligns with the postwar architectural sensibility seen in several Smithsonian institutions, emphasizing form and function while maintaining a dignified presence on the Mall. In 1980, it was renamed the National Museum of American History to better reflect its evolving mission.
Despite its austere exterior, the museum inside pulses with stories of innovation, struggle, creativity, and identity—making it one of the most visited museums in the United States. The inscription on the facade proudly reads: Kenneth E. Behring Center, recognizing a major donor whose contributions helped fund critical renovations in the early 2000s.
HABS Architectural Survey Standard:
Documented according to standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS):
Structure Name: National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Location: 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Style: Stripped Classical / Modernist
Date of Construction: 1958–1964
Architect: Walker Cain (McKim, Mead & White successor firm)
HABS Reference Number: DC-857
Inside the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, grandeur meets symbolism beneath a breathtaking ceiling. Captured from the mezzanine level, this upward-facing photograph showcases the elaborately detailed ceiling panels crowned by vibrant stained glass skylights—each one a kaleidoscope of cerulean blue and pale jade arranged in rosette-like mandalas. The light filtering through these skylights casts a soft, sacred glow over the classical architecture below, emphasizing the building’s dual function as both a temple of knowledge and a celebration of human achievement.
Just beneath the ceiling’s edge, a frieze of painted lunettes and spandrels anchors the visual drama. These golden-toned murals, with themes ranging from music and literature to invention and history, are housed within Romanesque arches trimmed with coffered detailing and Greek key patterns. The symbolism here is dense: winged victories guard crests on either side, surrounded by stars on fields of green—evoking celestial guidance and intellectual triumph. Between the arches are intricate grillwork screens, offering a delicate counterpoint to the weighty columns below.
The stately Corinthian columns—polished in creamy Tennessee marble—support a series of stacked arcades, each arch inscribed with the names of great thinkers and creators such as Michelangelo, Scott, and Plato. Their inclusion suggests a lineage of wisdom the Library of Congress seeks to preserve and honor. Warm light bounces off the orange, red, and emerald murals that adorn the spandrels, helping to bridge the distance between historical legacy and living institution.
This image not only reveals the intricate craftsmanship of the building’s Beaux-Arts interior, designed by Paul J. Pelz and John L. Smithmeyer, but also captures a philosophical ideal: that beauty, intellect, and cultural memory can coexist in architecture. The Library of Congress isn’t merely a repository of books; it’s a monument to the enduring value of human creativity and knowledge, every inch a celebration of learning made sacred through design.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
Yashica Electro 35 GSN - Ilford HP5+
To me this striking structure harks back to the post-war optimism that shaped Britain’s urban landscape. The bold, geometric facade embodies the architectural ethos of Brutalism raw concrete, modular repetition, and an unflinching honesty in materials.
More than just an aesthetic, this style was rooted in the ideals of the 1950s and 60s, a time when social democracy sought to rebuild a more equal society.
In my opinion - Brutalism is the architecture of civic ambition - the embodiment of a genuine effort to provide modern, functional spaces for all, whether in housing, education, or public buildings. Its imposing presence speaks to a time when architecture was driven by collective welfare rather than commercial interests.
Architect Ludger Lemieux designed this Art Deco style police and fire station which is also known as the Saint-Henri Fire Station and in French as Caserne des Pompiers 23. It was originally designated Station 11 but by the time of its inauguration on May 30, 1931 newspaper accounts were referring to it as Station 23.
For more information on this and other Art Deco gems of Montreal, please see my article for Untapped New York at:
untappedcities.com/2019/11/14/a-guide-to-the-art-deco-gem...
Bathed in golden light and framed by majestic marble columns, the Library of Congress interior offers a moment of awe-inspiring grandeur at the heart of Washington D.C. This image captures a richly ornamented view through an arched portal, revealing the elaborately frescoed ceilings, Corinthian columns, and meticulously inlaid floors of the Thomas Jefferson Building. A soft glow emanates from hidden lighting, accentuating the warmth of the ceiling’s terracotta tones, where personifications of knowledge and artistic symbols from around the world sit in harmony above the onyx-patterned archways.
To the right of the frame, a temporary partition and informational signage offer a modern contrast to the classical architecture—subtly reminding us that the Library of Congress is both a historic monument and a living, evolving institution. The poster’s message, “Save the Main,” is part of an ongoing effort to preserve the iconic Main Reading Room. Meanwhile, visitors stroll and stop in quiet admiration, dwarfed by the grand spatial proportions that speak to the Enlightenment-era ideals on which this institution was founded.
Built in the late 19th century and opened in 1897, the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building is a paragon of Beaux-Arts architecture. Its interiors, however, go far beyond decorative splendor—they serve as a civic cathedral to literacy, education, and democracy. The golden vaulted ceilings seen here feature richly symbolic murals and inscriptions. One such inscription, set within an archway, reads: “The true university of these days is a collection of books,” reinforcing the institution’s foundational role in public access to knowledge.
From this angle, the symmetry and layering of architectural elements become especially pronounced. The foreground arch, one of many repeated across the building, creates a frame-within-a-frame effect that guides the eye to the vanishing point. Viewers are drawn toward the circle-paned windows at the far end, which glow like halos above the column-lined balcony. Each classical column features exquisitely carved capitals and sculptural motifs, including acanthus leaves and cherubs.
This particular moment captures the balance between stillness and activity. The people within the frame—some visitors, some staff—bring scale and humanity to the otherwise overwhelming visual complexity of the architecture. It is a photograph about legacy and continuity; about the layers of culture, history, and craftsmanship embedded in America’s most sacred library.
Whether you are a student of architecture, a history enthusiast, or a photographer drawn to light and structure, this image distills a fleeting but powerful glimpse of a space where past and present coalesce. It encourages not only admiration but also preservation, serving as a reminder of the cultural treasures that belong to all.
Majestic and meticulous, the Minerva mosaic commands the center of the Grand Staircase inside the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, DC. This captivating photograph captures visitors ascending toward a radiant homage to wisdom and knowledge beneath a vault of gilded murals and intricate architectural detailing.
The mosaic of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom and war, was designed by artist Elihu Vedder and completed in 1896. She stands armored, holding a spear and a scroll labeled “Wisdom is the Foundation of Knowledge,” surrounded by books, an owl, and symbols of the liberal arts. As one of the few mosaics in the building—made with thousands of glass tesserae—it creates a jewel-like focal point for the grand staircase.
Above, vaulted ceilings burst with allegorical frescoes painted in bold hues of gold, green, and terracotta. Each triangular spandrel features personifications of fields like Philosophy and Commerce, complementing Minerva's intellectual domain. The ceiling medallions include emblems of American publishing and printing, echoing the Jefferson Building’s role as a temple of learning.
Framed by towering Corinthian columns of Tennessee marble, the staircase’s composition is classical in inspiration and national in ambition. The symmetry of the scene emphasizes not just architectural balance, but philosophical harmony: beauty, intellect, and democratic accessibility. As visitors ascend the stairs—some pausing to admire the detail, others guided by curiosity—they become participants in the civic ritual of discovery.
The Thomas Jefferson Building opened in 1897 as the nation’s first structure specifically built to house the Library of Congress. Its Beaux-Arts style was chosen to evoke European palaces of knowledge while asserting American artistic maturity. The Grand Staircase and Minerva mosaic form a key axis in this vision—one that ties classical virtues to national values.
The photograph, taken during public hours, reflects how living architecture bridges past and present. Visitors wearing modern clothes interact casually with a backdrop of myth and marble, underscoring how the ideals embodied here are not frozen in time. They are meant to be climbed toward, questioned, and reinterpreted.
Whether seen as a work of art, a civic symbol, or an architectural masterpiece, this view of the Minerva mosaic offers insight into the American belief in knowledge as power. It is both aspirational and grounded—a literal and figurative elevation of learning.
A striking Victorian-era corner building clad in rich red brick stands tall over a busy intersection in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood. Topped by a dramatic slate mansard roof and ornate dormer windows, the building exhibits the defining characteristics of Second Empire architecture—a style that gained popularity in the late 19th century for its grandeur and Parisian flair.
Architectural drama abounds in this imposing structure: elaborate corbels, cast-iron cresting, paired chimneys, and tall sash windows arranged symmetrically across the façade. The sharply defined verticality of the building is further emphasized by projecting bays, turret-like roof features, and recessed brickwork patterns. This is a showpiece of urban Victorian design, built to impress and built to last.
At street level, the past meets the present. A contemporary Le Pain Quotidien café has seamlessly integrated into the historic ground floor, creating a bustling corner spot that invites locals and visitors alike. With outdoor seating, a warm glow through its windows, and signage that is tasteful and subdued, the café enhances rather than disrupts the historic fabric of the building. This fusion of preservation and commerce is a hallmark of Dupont Circle’s success as a dynamic, livable neighborhood.
Modern life bustles in the foreground: a cyclist zips through the crosswalk, a red and white taxi catches motion blur at the intersection, and pedestrians stroll past on their way to meetings or brunch. The juxtaposition between the ornate Victorian architecture and the clean lines of the neighboring mid-century and contemporary buildings illustrates D.C.’s evolving skyline—an architectural dialogue between old and new.
The photo, taken during a calm, overcast day, softens the textures and balances the exposure, allowing the fine details of the brickwork, cornices, and slate to emerge clearly. The overall mood is one of timeless charm in an ever-moving city.
What makes this corner particularly photogenic is not just the architecture, but the life it holds. It’s a living building—still in use, still loved, still part of the neighborhood’s daily rhythm. Its commanding presence stands as a reminder that historic preservation isn’t about freezing the past; it’s about integrating heritage into the present and future of urban living.
Public School 83, located at 950 Rhinelander Avenue in the Morris Park section of the Bronx, New York City, was built in 1924-1925. It was designed by William H. Gompert, the Superintendent of School Buildings. It is a Colonial Revival style building, featuring a red brick facade and a 2-story high stone portico with classical columns. Colonial Revival was a popular style of that era and was often seen as distinctively American and appropriate for civic buildings. On a subtle level, it was meant to encourage "Americanism" among immigrants in contrast to other architectural styles then popular such as Renaissance Revival that had a strongly European identity. Although Colonial Revival draws heavily from Georgian architecture, a quintessentially English style and also borrows from classical Greek and Roman forms, it is seen as American for its association with such buildings as Independence Hall, Mount Vernon, and other iconic buildings of the American Revolutionary period.
According to a New York Times article dated 14 September 1925, PS 83 was one of 38 new school buildings opened that day to provide increased capacity for New York's growing school population. While PS 83 added seats for 1,724 students, all the new buildings that day added 62,171 to a system anticipated to reach an enrollment of 1 million students that year. (Recent school records indicate an enrollment of approximately 1,700 students in grades K to 8.)
PS 83 is also known as the Donald Hertz School. The L-shaped building is located at the corner of Rhinelander Avenue and Bogart Avenue. The inner portion of the L is occupied by the playground.
Centered in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown on Stockton Street, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association building displays quintessential Chinese architectural motifs: green tiled roofs with upturned eaves, red columns, and golden calligraphy. Flanked by utilitarian storefronts and modern facades, the CCBA’s design stands out with vibrant ornamentation and symbolic guardian lions. The building’s layered elevation and symmetry emphasize its importance within the Chinese American community, both historically and civically. Founded in the 19th century, the CCBA remains a hub for advocacy, cultural preservation, and neighborhood unity. Its enduring architectural presence anchors tradition amid Chinatown’s ever-evolving urban landscape.
The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, is an architecturally and historically significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Capitol is at the intersection of Apalachee Parkway and South Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee, Florida.
The Historic Capitol, sometimes called "The Old Capitol," built in 1845, was threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol building was built. Having been restored to its 1902-version in 1982, the Historic Capitol is directly behind the new Capitol building. Its restored space includes the Governor's Suite, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate chambers, rotunda, and halls. Its adapted space contains a museum exhibiting the state's political history, the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, which is managed by the Florida Legislature. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Historic Capitol Building (Restoration) on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
The New Tower houses executive and legislative offices and the chambers of the Florida Legislature (consisting of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives).
The buildings are universally, though informally, known as the Old Capitol and the New Capitol; the former is sometimes called the Historic Capitol, or also, confusingly, the Florida State Capitol. The latter was its official name prior to the construction of the New Capitol in 1977 and was so called by the National Park Service even after the New Capitol was operating. Its legal name today, however, is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The New Capitol, as a whole, does not have a legal name. When it was planned, the Capitol Complex (which is a legal name) was going to consist of the House and Senate chambers, and the twenty-two-story office building.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Capitol#Architecture_...
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Intricate stonework meets symbolic storytelling in this detailed photograph of a marble mosaic floor from the Library of Congress’s Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, D.C. At the center of the composition is a circular inlay featuring a gold bison—rendered in precise, stylized form—set within a deep brown stone medallion ringed by white and surrounded by chevron-patterned marble tiles. The craftsmanship, geometry, and rich color palette offer a compelling perspective on how flooring in civic architecture can convey meaning while enhancing the visual experience of a space.
The bison, central to this image, carries layered cultural significance. Long a symbol of the American frontier and resilience, its placement within the Library of Congress suggests a reverence for national heritage and natural history. Positioned proudly in mid-stride, the gold figure gleams against the dark background, emphasizing its deliberate placement in a temple of knowledge and national identity. The bison speaks not only to the American landscape but also to the endurance and strength of the republic.
Surrounding the medallion, the floor’s design features chevrons of reddish-brown, charcoal gray, and rose-colored marbles—each cut with precision and veined with natural patterns. These materials intersect at strong angles, creating a dynamic sense of movement and guiding the viewer’s eye inward. The pale cream marble banding between colors offers definition and contrast, making the symmetry of the design stand out even more. Above the chevrons, a glimpse of an ornate mosaic border composed of golden vines and ivory tendrils hints at the surrounding richness of the room’s full layout.
This kind of architectural flooring is typical of Beaux-Arts civic design, where nothing is incidental. Every detail—from the materials to the motifs—was selected to reinforce the cultural and intellectual aspirations of the building. Marble of varying origins was brought together in this space not only for its visual appeal, but to evoke permanence, opulence, and a timeless connection to classical ideals.
What makes this photograph especially powerful is its ability to isolate and elevate a detail that might be easily overlooked in the grander sweep of the building’s interiors. By focusing closely on the floor, the image invites viewers to slow down and notice how much narrative and symbolism is embedded in even the most humble surface—underfoot and yet worthy of reverence.
The Library of Congress isn’t just a place to house books. It’s a national statement carved in stone, painted in fresco, and inlaid in marble. This floor detail, with its bold geometry and golden bison, reminds us that every inch of the Jefferson Building was designed with intent—meant to inspire awe and reflect the ideals of a nation devoted to art, learning, and history.
Tucked between the Embarcadero waterfront and the soaring skyline of downtown San Francisco, the Ferry Station Post Office Building is a quiet architectural gem with an imposing neoclassical facade and a subtle charm. Built in 1915, this handsome red-brick structure was originally designed to serve the city's bustling ferry traffic and remains a rare survivor from the era before bridges reshaped Bay Area transit. The carefully rusticated stonework around the main entrance and the crest above the doors hint at the building’s federal roots, while the deep-set windows and symmetry evoke a dignified government presence. Though San Francisco has rapidly changed around it, this post office continues to anchor the neighborhood with a sense of permanence, recalling a time when letters, packages, and telegraphs flowed through here as quickly as commuters. It’s easy to miss in the shadows of glass towers, but worth a closer look—especially for lovers of historic infrastructure. Today, it stands as a small but significant reminder of the city’s maritime past and civic identity.
Glowing with gold and echoing with centuries of intellectual ambition, the oculus of the Library of Congress Main Reading Room captures the spirit of American enlightenment like no other architectural feature. This richly detailed ceiling, located in the heart of the Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, DC, is one of the most awe-inspiring interiors in the United States.
Completed in 1897, the Jefferson Building is a celebration of neoclassical exuberance and the belief that beauty and knowledge should go hand in hand. At its literal and symbolic center is this breathtaking coffered dome, painted and gilded, culminating in a circular oculus that lets daylight pour through the structure’s pinnacle.
Around the oculus, allegorical figures representing Human Understanding, Justice, America, History, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, and Science are arranged in a vibrant fresco, their flowing robes and serene faces painted in a muted, classical palette. Each figure is paired with a banner bearing virtues such as Love, Wisdom, Valor, Fame, Peace, and Freedom—a visual vocabulary of American civic ideals and cultural aspirations.
Seen from this low vantage point, the photograph emphasizes the dome’s vertical drama and geometric complexity. The layered coffers ripple outward from the oculus like a celestial mandala, each golden panel containing a floral rosette that echoes Renaissance ceilings in Florence and Rome. Yet this space is unmistakably American—its size, scale, and democratic purpose signal that it belongs not to a monarch, but to a people.
Reflected in the glass railing below is a silhouetted statue of Thomas Jefferson, his back turned as if contemplating the luminous knowledge housed all around him. The mirrored panels help frame the dome's curve while also reinforcing the sense that this space is meant for reflection, literally and metaphorically.
The dome rises nearly 160 feet above the floor of the Main Reading Room and is one of the most visually striking features of the Library’s Beaux-Arts architecture. Designed by Edward Pearce Casey and executed with stunning fidelity to classical principles, the room is meant to inspire reverence for learning and public service.
For many, walking into this room is like entering a cathedral of the mind—a secular sanctuary where beauty and knowledge are inseparably intertwined. Scholars, tourists, and students alike pause beneath this dome to look upward, mouths agape, momentarily transported by the sheer artistry and civic optimism overhead.
This photo captures that transformative experience: not just the architectural details, but the emotional and symbolic gravity of the space. The Library of Congress isn’t just the largest repository of knowledge in the world—it is one of the most beautiful, and this dome is its crown jewel.
Framed by the cool blue of the Bay and a sky streaked with summer fog, the iconic Ferry Building stands proudly at the edge of San Francisco’s Embarcadero. Its recognizable clocktower rises above a bustling terminal that has served the city since 1898, a Beaux-Arts gem that once greeted arriving ferry passengers before the bridges came. Today, it anchors a modern culinary marketplace while remaining a symbol of civic resilience and waterfront revival. Behind it, the layered skyline of the Financial District looms with architectural diversity—from the sleek Salesforce Tower and angular 181 Fremont to the pointed spire of the Transamerica Pyramid, peeking through like a familiar friend. The juxtaposition of historic and modern speaks to San Francisco’s ever-shifting identity—rooted in history, yet driven by innovation. A seagull glides through the frame overhead, adding motion and life to a scene that is quintessentially San Francisco. Whether seen from a ferry or from across the water, this view evokes a feeling of arrival, of being at the gateway to a city that’s both beautiful and unpredictable.
Farewell old friend. The MoL London Wall closes on 4th December 2022, to reemerge in 2026 on a new site as The London Museum. I was taken to visit the newly opened MoL in 1976/7. It sparked a life-long love affair and fascination with history, archaeology and London. Thank you.
“She’s not standing, she’s not blindfolded, and she doesn’t have a scale. She holds a sword. She’s in The Bronx, after all. She knew she had to defend herself.”
Lady Justice is usually blindfolded and holding scales of justice, but the one at the old Bronx Borough Courthouse is a little different. I was curious about the backstory, did some digging, and found connections to Tennessee and France. But now she’s pure Bronx.
Please see my article for Untapped New York for more info:
untappedcities.com/2021/10/19/lady-justice-bronx-borough-...
Looking skyward inside the Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C. reveals the architectural heart of the former Old Post Office Pavilion: a vast atrium capped by a steel-and-glass skylight. Spanning multiple stories, this breathtaking space blends industrial innovation with Romanesque design elements—characterized by rounded arches, iron ornamentation, and layered stone and plaster detailing.
Originally completed in 1899, the Old Post Office was designed by Supervising Architect Willoughby J. Edbrooke and featured cutting-edge construction for its time, including a steel internal skeleton that allowed for the open vertical space seen here. The atrium once served a practical purpose—allowing natural light into the mail sorting floors—and has since been preserved as a centerpiece of the building’s adaptive reuse as a luxury hotel.
The photo captures the latticework of the skylight, intersected by iron beams and flanked by repeating columned arcades on all sides. Suspended acoustic panels float below the glass ceiling, subtly modern additions to a historic structure. Decorative ironwork and ornamental capitals around the perimeter reflect the building's 19th-century grandeur.
Today, the atrium functions as a public and private gathering space—dramatic yet peaceful, airy yet grounded in stone and steel. This is one of Washington D.C.'s few remaining Romanesque Revival interiors on such a monumental scale.
HABS Architectural Survey Standard:
Documented according to standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS):
Structure Name: Old Post Office
Location: 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque
Date of Construction: 1892–1899
Architect: Willoughby J. Edbrooke
HABS Reference Number: DC-275
Bathed in natural light and defined by sculptural steel columns, Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport embodies the harmony between engineering and elegance. Designed by Portuguese architect Carlos Prata, the terminal’s clean geometry and open sightlines guide travelers through an airy, intuitive space. Layers of glass, metal, and wood flooring create a rhythm of light and warmth, while mezzanine seating and sleek signage enhance its modern European aesthetic. One of Europe’s most acclaimed regional airports, Porto’s gateway reflects Portugal’s design-forward identity — where travel, architecture, and human flow merge seamlessly into a contemporary expression of movement and possibility.
The richly adorned doorway leading to the Thomas Jefferson Library exhibit in the Library of Congress is a celebration of knowledge, classicism, and American Enlightenment ideals. Above the mahogany doors hangs a banner featuring Jefferson’s unmistakable signature and a row of his cherished books—an invitation into a curated collection that seeded the nation’s greatest library. Framed by gray-veined Tennessee marble columns with Corinthian capitals, the entrance is flanked by warm, neoclassical murals and glowing golden inscriptions that exalt the life of the mind.
A prominent quote inscribed in gilded text reads, “Man is one world and hath another to attend him,” a poetic assertion of inner life, lifted from George Herbert. Just above this phrase, a serene female figure sits within a circular medallion, painted in soft Impressionistic strokes. Draped in flowing white garments, she gazes contemplatively, symbolizing wisdom or perhaps the muse of learning. Decorative laurel wreaths and stone garlands frame the painting, underscoring the classical themes of honor and enlightenment.
The ceiling above the doorway is a vibrant tapestry of color and allegory. Gothic arches host heraldic shields, cherubs holding symbolic objects, and allegorical scenes representing various domains of knowledge and civilization. In the central arch, a female figure gestures toward a flaming torch, surrounded by the Latin word Nivelle, referencing a battlefield or possibly invoking a higher spiritual plane. Other cartouches and embellishments echo Jefferson’s era and interests, from agriculture to Enlightenment philosophy.
The entire visual composition is a harmonious blend of Beaux-Arts architecture and Renaissance-inspired decoration, emphasizing the intellectual legacy that Jefferson’s collection provided. The nearby banner advertising The Two Georges exhibition cleverly parallels this legacy, contrasting the Founding Father’s vision with more contemporary cultural reckonings.
This space is not merely transitional—it’s theatrical. It prepares the visitor to step from marble-clad grandeur into a world of leather-bound ideas. Every design decision within this frame reminds us that knowledge, history, and beauty are bound together in America’s greatest library.
Bathed in the soft glow of dusk, the monumental facade of the National Archives Building stands as a stoic guardian of American democracy. Located on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., this neoclassical temple houses some of the nation’s most treasured documents—including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
This image captures the building’s north-facing entrance, with its grand portico of Corinthian columns and richly sculpted pediment. The pediment relief, The Recorder of the Archives, was designed by James Earle Fraser and depicts the personification of History surrounded by figures representing national progress and wisdom. Beneath the pediment, the inscription reads: The ties that bind the lives of our people in one indissoluble union are perpetuated in the archives of the nation.
The architecture, designed by John Russell Pope and completed in 1935, draws inspiration from classical Greek and Roman civic buildings—symbols of republican ideals and enduring authority. Pope’s design emphasizes symmetry, permanence, and reverence, echoing the building's solemn purpose: to preserve and make accessible the foundational records of American governance.
At twilight, the light softens the stone, emphasizing the sculptural depth of the columns and frieze while casting a serene mood across the facade. The visual harmony of form, scale, and symbolism makes the National Archives one of the most iconic civic structures on the National Mall.
HABS Architectural Survey Standard:
Documented according to standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS):
Structure Name: National Archives Building
Location: 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW / Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Style: Neoclassical
Date of Construction: 1931–1935
Architect: John Russell Pope
HABS Reference Number: DC-138
Some details from one of the finest examples of Edwardian Boroque style architecture in the North West of England, Leigh town hall in Leigh,Lancashire.
The building is built from a sandstone ashlar with a green westmoorland slate roof and was designed by the town's local architect firm, J.C.Prestwich. It was completed in 1907 and served as the town hall until 1974 when the borough of Leigh was incorporated into the new Metropolitan borough of Wigan, a neighboring town who was (and still is) considered a rival!
Since then the building has had multiple council functions, occasionaly holding full council meetings and also recently becoming a home for the Wigan & Leigh archives & family history service.
At the moment the building is undergoing a thorough renovation, expected to be completed later this year. This will include new facilities for the archives and also a public museum, something the town has long since lacked!
This golden-hour view down Massachusetts Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.’s Embassy Row offers a striking contrast between eras: on the left, ornate Gilded Age mansions with turrets and stone façades; on the right, the minimalist glass-and-brick geometry of a mid-century modern federal building. It’s a visual dialogue that defines the city’s architectural DNA—where historic preservation and civic functionality meet face-to-face.
In the foreground, late 19th-century Romanesque Revival and Beaux-Arts townhouses exude character with arched windows, rusticated stone bases, and detailed brickwork. Many of these buildings now serve as embassies, think tanks, or private cultural institutions. Their craftsmanship remains evident, even under the bare branches of winter trees. The turreted structure with dark stone is especially notable for its depth and texture, anchoring this block with timeless presence.
Further down the avenue, the sleek lines of a modernist government or office building reflect the sunset in warm amber tones, amplifying the street’s golden warmth and hinting at Washington’s balance between heritage and functionality. Streetlights are just starting to glow, and a few pedestrians add life to the corridor—an everyday snapshot of one of the city's most prestigious boulevards.
This stretch of Massachusetts Avenue captures the architectural and civic soul of the nation's capital, where history is literally built into the street.
This photo shows reliefs by sculptor Joseph Guardo on the facade of the Montreal Botanical Garden Administration Building. The building was constructed in phases over the course of the 1930s and reliefs such as these were among the finishing touches put in place at the end of the decade.
These are titled "Sécateur" (pruner), a woman gardener, and "Microscope," a man examining vegetation. Both appear appear to be historic representations given the hairstyles, but it is unknown if they depict specific persons.
For more on this building and other Art Deco gems of Montreal, please see my article for Untapped New York at: untappedcities.com/2019/11/14/a-guide-to-the-art-deco-gem...
Also, in French, please see this blog post based on my article:
Nestled at the intersection of 19th and I Streets NW in downtown Washington, D.C., this elegant Beaux-Arts mansion stands as a striking testament to early 20th-century grandeur, gracefully holding its own amid the modern office buildings that surround it. With its cream-colored façade, steeply pitched slate roof, and elaborate dormer windows, the mansion feels like a European transplant in the heart of the nation’s capital.
This building is the former headquarters of the Arts Club of Washington, one of the oldest arts clubs in the country, housed in a mansion that exudes sophistication from every angle. The ornate window surrounds, bracketed cornices, and central arch over the second-floor window are key identifiers of the Beaux-Arts style—an architectural approach imported from France that emphasized symmetry, classicism, and decorative richness.
In a city better known for its neoclassical monuments and brutalist federal buildings, this house softens the streetscape with history and charm. Its rounded entryway, stone balcony, and sculptural accents offer a sense of intimate scale and craftsmanship often missing from today’s commercial architecture. The delicate balustrades, rounded dormers, and clustered chimneys enhance its historic character, making it an architectural gem that invites closer inspection.
The juxtaposition is part of the story: flanked by a gray Second Empire townhouse to the left and hemmed in by modern glass and concrete structures on the right and behind, this building serves as a time capsule. It reminds us that Washington is not just a city of policy and power—it’s also a city of stories, each one etched into the stone and mortar of its built environment.
Its placement on a traffic-calmed corner, surrounded by leafless trees in the winter air, brings the photo a quiet dignity. The overcast sky and muted colors of the surrounding buildings allow the creamy tones of the mansion to shine, bringing warmth to the cold. Pedestrian crosswalks, traffic signage, and a few parked cars root this image firmly in the present, while the house itself gestures reverently toward the past.
Whether it's currently used as an office, club, or cultural site, the structure's presence is a reminder of the city’s layered architectural history and the importance of preservation amid constant urban renewal. These kinds of buildings anchor a neighborhood—they are emotional landmarks just as much as physical ones.
Bold, sculptural, and utterly unique, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption rises from San Francisco’s Cathedral Hill like a modernist monument to faith and form. Completed in 1971, this Roman Catholic cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and one of the most striking pieces of religious architecture in the United States.
Designed collaboratively by architect Pietro Belluschi and the acclaimed firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the cathedral replaces an earlier structure destroyed by fire. Its most distinctive feature is the hyperbolic paraboloid roof—a soaring concrete shell that curves with an almost ethereal lightness despite its brutalist materiality. The vertical black glass spine that slices the facade heightens the drama, while the minimalist base and open plaza keep the focus on the structure’s graceful geometry.
The cathedral’s design speaks a powerful architectural language: futuristic yet grounded, minimal yet monumental. It has drawn comparisons to both origami and space-age design, and remains a source of both spiritual awe and architectural debate. Whether you're a devotee, an architecture buff, or a photographer chasing lines and light, this cathedral offers a truly iconic perspective.
Located in the heart of San Francisco, just above Japantown and near Pacific Heights, the Cathedral of Saint Mary is more than a place of worship—it’s a bold artistic and civic statement that continues to inspire wonder more than 50 years after its completion.