BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Natl Building Museum -- Exhibit: Montgomery Meigs

DC -- Natl Building Museum -- Exhibit: Montgomery Meigs:

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[1] MEIGS_160707_001.JPG	[2] MEIGS_160707_004.JPG	[3] MEIGS_160707_007.JPG
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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. MEIGS_160707_001.JPG: Captain Montgomery C. Meigs: Washington Visionary: When Lt. Montgomery Meigs was called to Washington, DC is 1852, he was an unknown member of the Army's elite Corp of Engineers (July 1, 1837 - May 14, 1861). His early years had been spent building or reinforcing Army installations including Fort Wayne on the Detroit River (1841-49) and Fort Montgomery on Lake Champlain (1850-52). One of his first assignments, surveying improvements for the upper Mississippi River (1837), had been under the command of then Lt. Robert E. Lee. Less than a decade after his arrival, the city's residents knew of Captain Meigs -- as did President-elect, Abraham Lincoln. His engineering know-how, fastidious oversight of contracts, bias for hiring exceptionally talented collaborators, and ability to lobby Congress had already left an indelible mark on the built environment on the city -- and ruffled more than a few feathers. In the 1850s, he was assigned chief engineer and superintendent of construction for the following projects... Washington Aqueduct: (November 3, 1852 - September 20, 1860; February 21, 1861 - June 18, 1862) Meigs surveyed, designed, and built the city's 12-mile long water supply system which runs from the Potomac River at Great Falls, Maryland, to Georgetown. The system originally included three reservoirs and two long-span bridges: Cabin John or Union Arch Bridge and the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge. U.S. Capitol Extension and New Dome: (March 29, 1853 - November 2, 1859; February 21, 1861 - May 13, 1861) Meigs oversaw construction of the new House and Senate chambers, as well as an innovative cast-iron dome, all initially designed by architect Thomas U. Walter. Taking full advantage of his authority, Meigs made critical engineering and design decisions, including selecting the artists (i.e., Italian fresco painter Constantino Brumidi, muralist Emanuel Leutze, and sculptors Thomas Crawford and Randolph Rogers) and subject matter for much of the Capitol's decoration and ornamentation. U.S. General Post Office Extension (April 25, 1855 - November 2, 1859)
2. MEIGS_160707_004.JPG: Captain Meigs, March 1861
3. MEIGS_160707_007.JPG: North Brumidi Corridor, US Capitol, 2011
4. MEIGS_160707_010.JPG: Spiral stairwell with M.C. Meigs risers at Georgetown Reservoir
5. MEIGS_160707_012.JPG: Washington Aqueduct: (November 3, 1852 - September 20, 1860; February 21, 1861 - June 18, 1862) Meigs surveyed, designed, and built the city's 12-mile long water supply system which runs from the Potomac River at Great Falls, Maryland, to Georgetown. The system originally included three reservoirs and two long-span bridges: Cabin John or Union Arch Bridge and the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge. U.S. Capitol Extension and New Dome: (March 29, 1853 - November 2, 1859; February 21, 1861 - May 13, 1861) Meigs oversaw construction of the new House and Senate chambers, as well as an innovative cast-iron dome, all initially designed by architect Thomas U. Walter. Taking full advantage of his authority, Meigs made critical engineering and design decisions, including selecting the artists (i.e., Italian fresco painter Constantino Brumidi, muralist Emanuel Leutze, and sculptors Thomas Crawford and Randolph Rogers) and subject matter for much of the Capitol's decoration and ornamentation. U.S. General Post Office Extension (April 25, 1855 - November 2, 1859)
6. MEIGS_160707_013.JPG: Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge, across Rock Creek, carrying Washington Aqueduct, 1860
7. MEIGS_160707_018.JPG: When Lt. Montgomery Meigs was called to Washington, DC is 1852, he was an unknown member of the Army's elite Corp of Engineers (July 1, 1837 - May 14, 1861). His early years had been spent building or reinforcing Army installations including Fort Wayne on the Detroit River (1841-49) and Fort Montgomery on Lake Champlain (1850-52). One of his first assignments, surveying improvements for the upper Mississippi River (1837), had been under the command of then Lt. Robert E. Lee. Less than a decade after his arrival, the city's residents knew of Captain Meigs -- as did President-elect, Abraham Lincoln. His engineering know-how, fastidious oversight of contracts, bias for hiring exceptionally talented collaborators, and ability to lobby Congress had already left an indelible mark on the built environment on the city -- and ruffled more than a few feathers. In the 1850s, he was assigned chief engineer and superintendent of construction for the following projects...
8. MEIGS_160707_020.JPG: Who was Montgomery Cunningham Meigs? Early Years: Born May 3, 1816 to Mary Montgomery Meigs and Charles Dulcenia Meigs in Augusta, Georgia where his father had established a medical practice. Raised in Philadelphia. His parents were staunch abolitionists and returned north to educate their son. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for one year. Trained in civil engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1836 at the age of 20. Early Career: Assigned to the Army Corp of Engineers in 1837, Meigs on a variety of survey, engineering, and construction projects around the country. In 1852, he was brought to Washington DC by chief engineer General Joseph G. Totten for survey a water supply route for the city. Reputation: Incorruptible. His integrity was beyond reproach. Meigs was unwilling to turn a blind eye to corruption of any form -- especially when it came to government contracts. Personality: Larger than life. Meigs stood tall at six-feet, one-inch and had an ego to match. Full of energy and often described as cantankerous and ambitious, he had both a quick mind and temper. Family Man: Marries Louise Rodgers in 1839 and fathers seven children, four of whom live to adulthood: John Rodgers Meigs, Mary Montgomery Meigs, Montgomery Meigs Jr., and Louisa Rodgers Meigs. Deeply religious, longtime member of St. John's Episcopal Church. Devastated when his eldest son, brevet major John Rodgers Meigs (1842-1864) dies during the Civil War. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Meigs passed away at his home in Washington, DC on January 2, 1892, at the age of 75. Vision for Washington, DC: Reincarnation of Rome, capital of the Roman Empire. He always took the long view. Talents and Interests: Watercolorist, early devotee of photography, Pitman shorthand practitioner, avid journal writer, and tinkerer -- he was granted more than a dozen U.S. patents.
9. MEIGS_160707_026.JPG: Louisa Rodgers Meigs, March 1861 Meigs' children at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Michigan, c. 1849
10. MEIGS_160707_031.JPG: Coat of Arms, Meggs [sic] Family of Devonshire, England
11. MEIGS_160707_032.JPG: View of the Capitol during construction of the new dome, January 1856
12. MEIGS_160707_036.JPG: Montgomery C. Meigs' diploma from West Point, 1836
13. MEIGS_160707_037.JPG: General Montgomery C. Meigs: Civil War Hero "...without the services of this eminent soldier, the National cause must either have been lost or deeply imperiled in the late civil war." -- Secretary of State, William H. Seward, May 28, 1867 A career U.S. Army officer, General Meigs played a pivotal role in the Civil War, helping to secure victory and save the Union. Appointed Quartermaster General by President Abraham Lincoln, Meigs became one of the president's most trusted allies and confidants. When Meigs' son, Major John Rodgers, Meigs was killed during the war, Lincoln and his Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, attended the funeral. Less than a year later, in April 1865, General Meigs was at Lincoln's dying bedside. Quartermaster Corps (May 15, 1861 - February 6, 1862) As head of the Quartermaster Corps, Meigs was responsible for transporting and outfitting Union soldiers with vital supplies. He created a network of field depots and operated a complex transportation system that included the purchase and delivery of food, clothing, housing, weaponry, animals, equipment, and services. At critical points in 1864 and 1865, Meigs assumed direct control of the supply lines for General Ulysses S. Grant (at Fredericksburg and Belle Plain, Virginia) and General William T. Sherman (in Savannah, Georgia, as well as in North Carolina). For four days in July of 1864, he was directly engaged in the defense of Washington, DC, at Fort Stevens. The most enduring legacy of Meigs' command was the establishment of Arlington National Cemetery on the former plantation of Mary Custis and Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee. On June 15, 1864, Meigs appropriated 200 acres of the Arlington House estate overlooking the capital and the Potomac River. By ordering the burial of thousands near the mansion's garden, Meigs ensured Lee would never be able to return. Rank: Brigadier General to Major General (two stars).
14. MEIGS_160707_040.JPG: General Meigs, Matthew Brady Photographs, c. 1865
15. MEIGS_160707_042.JPG: Quartermaster Corps (May 15, 1861 - February 6, 1862) As head of the Quartermaster Corps, Meigs was responsible for transporting and outfitting Union soldiers with vital supplies. He created a network of field depots and operated a complex transportation system that included the purchase and delivery of food, clothing, housing, weaponry, animals, equipment, and services. At critical points in 1864 and 1865, Meigs assumed direct control of the supply lines for General Ulysses S. Grant (at Fredericksburg and Belle Plain, Virginia) and General William T. Sherman (in Savannah, Georgia, as well as in North Carolina). For four days in July of 1864, he was directly engaged in the defense of Washington, DC, at Fort Stevens. The most enduring legacy of Meigs' command was the establishment of Arlington National Cemetery on the former plantation of Mary Custis and Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee. On June 15, 1864, Meigs appropriated 200 acres of the Arlington House estate overlooking the capital and the Potomac River. By ordering the burial of thousands near the mansion's garden, Meigs ensured Lee would never be able to return. Rank: Brigadier General to Major General (two stars).
16. MEIGS_160707_045.JPG: "...without the services of this eminent soldier, the National cause must either have been lost or deeply imperiled in the late civil war." -- Secretary of State, William H. Seward, May 28, 1867 A career U.S. Army officer, General Meigs played a pivotal role in the Civil War, helping to secure victory and save the Union. Appointed Quartermaster General by President Abraham Lincoln, Meigs became one of the president's most trusted allies and confidants. When Meigs' son, Major John Rodgers, Meigs was killed during the war, Lincoln and his Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, attended the funeral. Less than a year later, in April 1865, General Meigs was at Lincoln's dying bedside.
17. MEIGS_160707_046.JPG: Belle Plain, Virginia, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, photographer, 1864
18. MEIGS_160707_049.JPG: Death bed of Lincoln, 1865 [Meigs is fifth from the left in the image]
19. MEIGS_160707_052.JPG: Arlington House, June 28, 1864
20. MEIGS_160707_054.JPG: General Meigs and the National Building Museum Even before General Meigs retired from the U.S. Army in 1882, 50 years after his career began at West Point, he had secured his next job directly from Congress. Meigs was asked to site, design, and construct a "brick and metal fireproof building" for the Pension Bureau. The work (1882-1887) was his last and most important architectural undertaking. One hundred years later, in 1985, this structure was designated a National Historic Landmark and opened its doors as the National Building Museum. What makes this building Meigsnificent? 15.5 Million Bricks: Fireproof and cost-efficient, the walls, ceilings, stairs, and Corinthian columns are constructed from brick. To assure quality, Meigs hired the bricklayers himself and carefully monitored and reported on their progress. World-Class Scale: Corinthian columns: 75 feet high, 8 feet in diameter, and 25 feet in circumference. Great Hall: 316 feet long x 116 feet wide x 159 feet high. When completed, this was the largest brick building in the world. Meigs was eager to best his inspiration for the space: Rome's impressive Baths of Diocletian (298-306). The columns remain among the world's tallest. Commemoration of the Civil War: To honor the Army and Navy pensioners the building would serve, Meigs developed a decorative program that focused on the military. The exterior frieze, while inspired by the Parthenon's (447-432 BC), honors the Union soldiers of the Civil War. And at the cornice -- otherwise a direct copy of Michelangelo's Renaissance design at the Palazzo Farnese in Rome (1550s) -- Meigs substituted bursting bombs and upright cannons for the fleurs-de-lis and acanthus leaves. Innovative Design: Meigs harnessed his extensive engineering experience to create an inviting and healthful work place with: * Abundant natural light * Freely circulating fresh air (the passive system was replaced by modern HVAC) * Easily negotiable stairs initially designed for disabled veterans * Document tracks to move massive amounts of files around the building (no longer operational).
21. MEIGS_160707_057.JPG: General Meigs upon his retirement, 1882
22. MEIGS_160707_059.JPG: Even before General Meigs retired from the U.S. Army in 1882, 50 years after his career began at West Point, he had secured his next job directly from Congress. Meigs was asked to site, design, and construct a "brick and metal fireproof building" for the Pension Bureau. The work (1882-1887) was his last and most important architectural undertaking. One hundred years later, in 1985, this structure was designated a National Historic Landmark and opened its doors as the National Building Museum.
23. MEIGS_160707_069.JPG: What makes this building Meigsnificent? 15.5 Million Bricks: Fireproof and cost-efficient, the walls, ceilings, stairs, and Corinthian columns are constructed from brick. To assure quality, Meigs hired the bricklayers himself and carefully monitored and reported on their progress. World-Class Scale: Corinthian columns: 75 feet high, 8 feet in diameter, and 25 feet in circumference. Great Hall: 316 feet long x 116 feet wide x 159 feet high. When completed, this was the largest brick building in the world. Meigs was eager to best his inspiration for the space: Rome's impressive Baths of Diocletian (298-306). The columns remain among the world's tallest.
24. MEIGS_160707_072.JPG: Detail, Civil War frieze
25. MEIGS_160707_074.JPG: Construction of the Pension Bureau, November 1, 1883
26. MEIGS_160707_076.JPG: Commemoration of the Civil War: To honor the Army and Navy pensioners the building would serve, Meigs developed a decorative program that focused on the military. The exterior frieze, while inspired by the Parthenon's (447-432 BC), honors the Union soldiers of the Civil War. And at the cornice -- otherwise a direct copy of Michelangelo's Renaissance design at the Palazzo Farnese in Rome (1550s) -- Meigs substituted bursting bombs and upright cannons for the fleurs-de-lis and acanthus leaves. Innovative Design: Meigs harnessed his extensive engineering experience to create an inviting and heathful work place with: * Abundant natural light * Freely circulating fresh air (the passive system was replaced by modern HVAC) * Easily negotiable stairs initially designed for disabled veterans * Document tracks to move massive amounts of files around the building (no longer operational).
27. MEIGS_160707_095.JPG: Pension Commissioner's Suite: This photograph, taken in 1894, shows the second-room office in the Pension Commissioner's Suite. Note the painted ceiling, the speaker tube on the desk, and the carpeted foot rest.
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