As a young man, Thomas Ustick Walter
received technical education in building
construction from both his father - a
mason, and William Strickland - the
leading architect of the era. This unique
training, in both the technical and the
theoretical, allowed Walter to become the
preeminent architect of the mid -19th
century in America. Walter came out of the
gate quickly, designing Moyamensing
Prison in 1830 and the amazing building
for Girard College in 1833.
As he was completing the construction of Girard College, he continued to work throughout Philadelphia in the era leading up to the Civil War. In 1850, he won a competition for the expansion of the capitol building in Washington, DC. This project more than doubled the size of the capitol, adding new senate and house chambers at either end of the building and adding the spectacular cast iron dome which has acted as an icon for American government ever since.
As he was completing the construction of Girard College, he continued to work throughout Philadelphia in the era leading up to the Civil War. In 1850, he won a competition for the expansion of the capitol building in Washington, DC. This project more than doubled the size of the capitol, adding new senate and house chambers at either end of the building and adding the spectacular cast iron dome which has acted as an icon for American government ever since.
Thomas Ustick Walter
1804-1887
1804-1887
Portrait of Walter by Matthew Brady from the Library of
Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Walter retired in 1865 to Philadelphia but
then was called out of retirement by the city
to aid John Macarthur on the design of the
Philadelphia City Hall. The massive scale
of this project, larger even than the United
States Capitol, occupied Walter until his
death in 1887 when the building was only
half finished. On top of all of these
accomplishments, Walter helped found the
American Institute of Architects and served
as its second president.
More than almost any other architect, Walter was responsible for personifying the profession in the public's eye; particularly with his contributions to enlarging the capital during the American Civil War. For many in the North, this effort was a public testament that the Union would survive and thrive.
More than almost any other architect, Walter was responsible for personifying the profession in the public's eye; particularly with his contributions to enlarging the capital during the American Civil War. For many in the North, this effort was a public testament that the Union would survive and thrive.