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Freedom's Cap: The United States Capitol and the Coming of the Civil War
The modern United States Capitol is a triumph of both engineering and design. From its 9-million-pound cast-iron dome to the dazzling opulence of the President's Room and the Senate corridors, the Capitol is one of the most renowned buildings in the world. But the history of the U.S. Capitol is also the history of America's most tumultuous years. As the new Capitol rose above Washington's skyline, battles over slavery and secession ripped the country apart. Ground was broken just months after Congress adopted the compromise of 1850, which was supposed to settle the "slavery question" for all time. The statue Freedom was placed atop the Capitol's new dome in 1863, five months after the Battle of Gettysburg.In Freedom's Cap, the award-winning journalist Guy Gugliotta recounts the history and broader meaning of the Capitol building through the lives of the three men most responsible for its construction. We owe the building's scale and magnificence to none other than Jefferson Davis, who remained the Capitol's staunchest advocate up until the week he left Washington to become president of the Confederacy. Davis's protégé and the Capitol's lead engineer, Captain Montgomery C. Meigs, became quartermaster general of the Union Army and never forgave Davis for his betrayal of the nation. The Capitol's brilliant architect and Meigs's longtime rival, Thomas U. Walter, defended slavery at the beginning of the war but eventually turned fiercely against the South.In impeccable detail, Gugliotta captures the clash of personalities behind the building of the Capitol and the unique engineering, architectural, design, and political challenges the three men collectively overcame to create the iconic seat of American government.
497 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 11, 2013
I'll admit to a preference for books that look at history from an unusual point of view and Freedom's Cap truly fits that description.
Mr. Gugliotta tells the story of the project to enlarge the United States Capitol and replace the old dome with the now very familiar dome atop the building in a very detailed and compelling manner. But he does more than that; he uses the story as a backdrop to the even more compelling story of the struggle of the nation to try to hold together through the years immediately preceding the Civil War.
As someone who has had a lifelong fascination with the Civil War, I have often hoped to find a book that effectively tells the story of the years between the Compromise of 1850 and the surrender of Fort Sumter. And now I've found it. Throughout, we see the progress — or lack thereof — of the Capitol Extension and how events and familiar personalities — Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, John Floyd, William Seward — affected the project and the nation.
But the main protagonists are architect Thomas Walter, engineer Montgomery Meigs, and (most surprisingly) Senator and Secretary of War Jefferson Davis and Mr. Gugliotta does a wonderful job of letting us see their strengths and weaknesses, and how their passions and jealousies combined to create a work of admirable design and beautiful art.
This a well-told and accessible story and, in fact, Mr. Gugliotta's style reminds me a great deal of David McCullough, whose ability to weave a story is one I admire greatly. In short, Freedom's Cap has my highest recommendation and Mr. Gugliotta is now on my short list of authors whose work I will pick up and read just because he wrote it.
Mr. Gugliotta tells the story of the project to enlarge the United States Capitol and replace the old dome with the now very familiar dome atop the building in a very detailed and compelling manner. But he does more than that; he uses the story as a backdrop to the even more compelling story of the struggle of the nation to try to hold together through the years immediately preceding the Civil War.
As someone who has had a lifelong fascination with the Civil War, I have often hoped to find a book that effectively tells the story of the years between the Compromise of 1850 and the surrender of Fort Sumter. And now I've found it. Throughout, we see the progress — or lack thereof — of the Capitol Extension and how events and familiar personalities — Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, John Floyd, William Seward — affected the project and the nation.
But the main protagonists are architect Thomas Walter, engineer Montgomery Meigs, and (most surprisingly) Senator and Secretary of War Jefferson Davis and Mr. Gugliotta does a wonderful job of letting us see their strengths and weaknesses, and how their passions and jealousies combined to create a work of admirable design and beautiful art.
This a well-told and accessible story and, in fact, Mr. Gugliotta's style reminds me a great deal of David McCullough, whose ability to weave a story is one I admire greatly. In short, Freedom's Cap has my highest recommendation and Mr. Gugliotta is now on my short list of authors whose work I will pick up and read just because he wrote it.
April 6, 2014
I've been reading this book for almost a year now. Not because it was boring or unreadable, but because it was one of those books that's easy to pick up and read a chapter or two, then do something else. I really enjoyed learning the history of how the Capitol came to be the iconic image we know today. I've been fortunate enough to have a really in-depth tour of the Capitol, not the 'hit-the-highlights' tour that you can get tickets for, but a personal tour, arranged by a member of a Senator's chief of staff. I wish I had known what I know now!
June 20, 2025
Freedom's Cap: The United States Capitol and the Coming of the Civil War is an excellent work of historical storytelling. The book was purchased in the U.S. Capitol building's gift shop by this reviewer, thereby it was held to high standards when reviewed for its level of literary craftsmanship.
It tells the tale of the redesign and expansion of the U.S. Capitol Building, a project which included the building of a large Dome for its top. This became necessary with the addition of numerous new states following the Mexican-American War and the subsequent need to house more Senators and congressmen. This necessity also precipitated an increased vehemence in the debate over slavery's expansion, which was an issue that largely languished in the background since the Missouri Compromise of 1820.
With the addition of new territories which would soon become states, the question of what their status would be-free or slave-and how this would be determined became focal points in the very Capitol building which was beginning to undergo renovations.
Issues like the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Bleeding Kansas and the Lecompton Constitution, the Missouri Compromise of 1850, the Dred Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court decision, and John's Brown Harper's Ferry raid were all adding fuel to the fire over the issue of human bondage.
Journalist and historian Guy Gugliotta weaved together these two simultaneous unfoldings into Freedom's Cap: The United States Capitol and the Coming of the Civil War.
One of the chief plotlines was the rivalry between the two architects vying to have control of the Capitol project. Architect Thomas U. Walter and future U.S. military Quartermaster Montgomery C. Meigs were each trying to elbow the other out of the way in order to have license to do as they wished with the designs.
Mississippi Senator and President James Pierce's Secretary of War Jefferson Davis was one of Meigs's key sponsors in Washington. A lot of the book explains the contradictions in Davis's political positions: at times he was a unionist, wanting a reconstructed Capitol to show off the greatness he thought was awaiting the still-young country; at other times he was a states' rights promoting defender of the institution of slavery, the victims of which were present in droves at his Briarfield, Mississippi plantation.
As a former military man himself, Davis seemed predisposed to want a fellow military engineer like Meigs in charge of the project.
President James Buchanan's Secretary of War John B. Floyd had Thomas U. Walter's back, and at times the wrangling between Walter and Meigs seemed almost petty.
Gugliotta made the point that, as the divisions beginning to tear at the nation as the 1850s wore on, the Capitol reconstruction became one of the last bipartisan projects that Senators and Congressmen in D.C. could support regardless of party affiliation.
The employment of foreigners on the project became a sticking point early on. The rise of the nativist Know-Nothing Party meant that employing immigrants on the construction job-much less reaching out to talented Italian sculptors like Constantino Brumidi-were moves rife with pitfalls by those who attempted them.
Brumidi would be an important supporting player throughout the book, and the creation of his Apotheosis of Washington frescoe in the eye of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda would be detailed well by Gugliotta.
The backstory of the creation of the bronze statue Freedom to cap the 9 million pound iron dome was one of numerous interesting nuggets in the book. With no help from the bureaucratic back-and-forth in D.C., Thomas Crawford would eventually complete this statue to crown the Dome.
The author weaves together the story of a country pulling apart in the mid-nineteenth century with the seemingly incongruous fact that the Capitol was undergoing a major positive overhaul with partial success.
He seems to speed the pace way too much toward the end, with a plethora of details presented in a manner that, at times, drags, giving way to a fast forward as the conclusion nears. This makes sense considering the subtitle just deals with the coming of the Civil War, but the manner in which Gugliotta hit the accelerator seemed out of synch with the rest of the book's pacing (as if he was just anxious to finish the work).
At times the bringing together of the two supposedly interconnected storylines-the possibility of a national breakup over slavery coinciding with a rebuilding of the Capitol building specifically and Washington, D.C. in general-was done clunkily. But overall this difficult balancing act was pulled off moderately well by Gugliotta.
Montgomery Meigs, Thomas U. Walter, and Jefferson Davis are by the far trio of characters which receive the bulk of Freedom's Cap's focus. They really are brought to life with admirable skill, with a three dimensional-like telling of their personalities and proclivities making this aspect of the book one of its strongest.
There is a lot of information to be gained from reading this book, although a better sticking of the landing and firmer execution of its goals would have likely made it a five star work of nonfiction.
-Andrew Canfield Denver, Colorado
It tells the tale of the redesign and expansion of the U.S. Capitol Building, a project which included the building of a large Dome for its top. This became necessary with the addition of numerous new states following the Mexican-American War and the subsequent need to house more Senators and congressmen. This necessity also precipitated an increased vehemence in the debate over slavery's expansion, which was an issue that largely languished in the background since the Missouri Compromise of 1820.
With the addition of new territories which would soon become states, the question of what their status would be-free or slave-and how this would be determined became focal points in the very Capitol building which was beginning to undergo renovations.
Issues like the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Bleeding Kansas and the Lecompton Constitution, the Missouri Compromise of 1850, the Dred Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court decision, and John's Brown Harper's Ferry raid were all adding fuel to the fire over the issue of human bondage.
Journalist and historian Guy Gugliotta weaved together these two simultaneous unfoldings into Freedom's Cap: The United States Capitol and the Coming of the Civil War.
One of the chief plotlines was the rivalry between the two architects vying to have control of the Capitol project. Architect Thomas U. Walter and future U.S. military Quartermaster Montgomery C. Meigs were each trying to elbow the other out of the way in order to have license to do as they wished with the designs.
Mississippi Senator and President James Pierce's Secretary of War Jefferson Davis was one of Meigs's key sponsors in Washington. A lot of the book explains the contradictions in Davis's political positions: at times he was a unionist, wanting a reconstructed Capitol to show off the greatness he thought was awaiting the still-young country; at other times he was a states' rights promoting defender of the institution of slavery, the victims of which were present in droves at his Briarfield, Mississippi plantation.
As a former military man himself, Davis seemed predisposed to want a fellow military engineer like Meigs in charge of the project.
President James Buchanan's Secretary of War John B. Floyd had Thomas U. Walter's back, and at times the wrangling between Walter and Meigs seemed almost petty.
Gugliotta made the point that, as the divisions beginning to tear at the nation as the 1850s wore on, the Capitol reconstruction became one of the last bipartisan projects that Senators and Congressmen in D.C. could support regardless of party affiliation.
The employment of foreigners on the project became a sticking point early on. The rise of the nativist Know-Nothing Party meant that employing immigrants on the construction job-much less reaching out to talented Italian sculptors like Constantino Brumidi-were moves rife with pitfalls by those who attempted them.
Brumidi would be an important supporting player throughout the book, and the creation of his Apotheosis of Washington frescoe in the eye of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda would be detailed well by Gugliotta.
The backstory of the creation of the bronze statue Freedom to cap the 9 million pound iron dome was one of numerous interesting nuggets in the book. With no help from the bureaucratic back-and-forth in D.C., Thomas Crawford would eventually complete this statue to crown the Dome.
The author weaves together the story of a country pulling apart in the mid-nineteenth century with the seemingly incongruous fact that the Capitol was undergoing a major positive overhaul with partial success.
He seems to speed the pace way too much toward the end, with a plethora of details presented in a manner that, at times, drags, giving way to a fast forward as the conclusion nears. This makes sense considering the subtitle just deals with the coming of the Civil War, but the manner in which Gugliotta hit the accelerator seemed out of synch with the rest of the book's pacing (as if he was just anxious to finish the work).
At times the bringing together of the two supposedly interconnected storylines-the possibility of a national breakup over slavery coinciding with a rebuilding of the Capitol building specifically and Washington, D.C. in general-was done clunkily. But overall this difficult balancing act was pulled off moderately well by Gugliotta.
Montgomery Meigs, Thomas U. Walter, and Jefferson Davis are by the far trio of characters which receive the bulk of Freedom's Cap's focus. They really are brought to life with admirable skill, with a three dimensional-like telling of their personalities and proclivities making this aspect of the book one of its strongest.
There is a lot of information to be gained from reading this book, although a better sticking of the landing and firmer execution of its goals would have likely made it a five star work of nonfiction.
-Andrew Canfield Denver, Colorado
February 2, 2021
An excellent history of the building of the United States Capitol that we have today, the tumultuous years in which the building occurred, between the Compromise of 1850 and the years of the Civil War, and the men most responsible for it's design, building and ornamentation. Those men were: Thomas U. Walters, now recognized as the fourth Architect of the Capitol; Captain Montgomery Meigs of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, builder extraordinaire; Italian immigrant artist Constantino Brumidi; and most remarkably, the man that played an extremely important part in making it all happen, United States Senator and later Secretary of War Jefferson Davis of the state of Mississippi. Recommended reading for anyone interested in US history, architecture and public art.
September 14, 2019
This was an amazing history of the US Capital and what it took to get it finished. I love a history book that places you there. the text spoke to me and I felt I was involved in the structure of such a recognizable building across the globe. Highly recommended to those that need to know the story behind the structure.
August 5, 2017
Very good read.
July 12, 2012
Interesting approach that covers pre Civil War history and beyond with a unique approach-through the analysis and building of the nations Capital.
As with politics today, why should the 1900's be any different? Well, Gugliotta will affirm the obvious. Political alliances are made in this non-fiction narrative that are as divisive as the Civil War. The head engineer and the architect for the project are on different sides, and powerful politicians including Jefferson Davis take a stand to promote one or the other. Jefferson Davis is an advocate for the head engineer, Montgomery C. Meigs. The architect, Thomas Walter was originally pro-slavery, but ultimately opposed the Southern position. The story is a candid look at two highly motivated men with exceedingly large egos. It is fascinating to follow the personal views of the players in Washington who fought and compromised to achieve the completion of this magnificent historical seat of our national government. The author has a gift of presenting the history of the many different political parties, that can be difficult to keep straight. Freedom's Cap is an important addition for any Civil War enthusiast.
As with politics today, why should the 1900's be any different? Well, Gugliotta will affirm the obvious. Political alliances are made in this non-fiction narrative that are as divisive as the Civil War. The head engineer and the architect for the project are on different sides, and powerful politicians including Jefferson Davis take a stand to promote one or the other. Jefferson Davis is an advocate for the head engineer, Montgomery C. Meigs. The architect, Thomas Walter was originally pro-slavery, but ultimately opposed the Southern position. The story is a candid look at two highly motivated men with exceedingly large egos. It is fascinating to follow the personal views of the players in Washington who fought and compromised to achieve the completion of this magnificent historical seat of our national government. The author has a gift of presenting the history of the many different political parties, that can be difficult to keep straight. Freedom's Cap is an important addition for any Civil War enthusiast.
April 1, 2015
Guy Gugliotta's book on the US Capitol extension and dome is both fascinating and thorough. After reading you will have a good background on the politics, engineering pitfalls, living and working conditions of sll people who were involved building our Nation's capital over 150 years ago. I especially enjoyed the detailed, sometime too detail stories of all the major players including Meigs, Walter, Davis, Floyd, Latrobe, Bulfinch, the artisans, the Presidents and the major events revolving around free and pro slavery states that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
It's also most appropriate that I've read this book to the final 150 anniversary year of the end of the Civil War and Lincolns Assassination on April 14. Freedom's Cap brought all the personal tensions, triumphs, tragedies that were intertwined in completing of this great Capitol building.
It's also most appropriate that I've read this book to the final 150 anniversary year of the end of the Civil War and Lincolns Assassination on April 14. Freedom's Cap brought all the personal tensions, triumphs, tragedies that were intertwined in completing of this great Capitol building.
January 3, 2014
Mr. Gugliotta tells the story of the project to enlarge the United States Capitol and replace the old dome with the now very familiar dome atop the building in a very detailed and compelling manner. But he does more than that; he uses the story as a backdrop to the even more compelling story of the struggle of the nation to try to hold together through the years immediately preceding the Civil War.
Fascinating reading, even if it sometimes does bog done in factual minutia. I wish there had been more pictures/drawings. I just toured the capitol and went in the dome in Aug. but sometimes was still unclear as to what area he was referring to at times.
Fascinating reading, even if it sometimes does bog done in factual minutia. I wish there had been more pictures/drawings. I just toured the capitol and went in the dome in Aug. but sometimes was still unclear as to what area he was referring to at times.
June 18, 2012
The paradox of Jefferson Davis supporting the enlargement of the U.S. Capitol and his subsequent presidency of the Confederacy is handled expertly. I wish I had known as much about this when my wife and I visited Washington many years ago on our honeymoon. The lack of more drawings is a drawback as well as the various architectual terms used that are not explained. A visit to the Capitol website cleared up some of the mystery. It was good to read that the two antagonists Meigs and Walters repaired their relationship before their deaths.
April 29, 2016
As a native of Washington, D.C., I was hesitant to read this book, because I thought I knew everything about the Capitol Building. I am glad I read this because it discusses things I never knew, especially the Civil War aspect, of which I am a huge fan. It is a good read for anyone interested in the political nature of the construction of our country's most iconic building nd how politics almost prevented it from existing. It is the greatest symbol of our democracy and this book is a great read. It is well written and well researched. I look forward to more works by this author.
December 30, 2014
Most of what we're taught In American History are one-dimensional aspects of people such as Jefferson Davis. This book tells an interesting story of Jefferson Davis prior to the Civil War that I had not known about. As Secretary of War under President Pierce he was the driving force in favor of building a new U.S. Capitol. The Capitol expansion with the east and west wings and it's dome was accomplished at perhaps the most critical time in our history and probably never would have happened if it had not been for Jefferson Davis.
May 26, 2015
The most amazing aspect of this book was the revelation that our Capitol building was the product of the vision of Thomas Walter, its architect, the persistence of Captain Meigs, its engineer, and the support of Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. That's right, Jefferson Davis, the same man who would later lead the southern Confederacy in its revolt against the Union. Fascinating that the appearance of our nation's Capitol was heavily influenced by a man who later sought to establish a separate country.
August 23, 2013
I cannot recommend this book enough. It was beautifully written and thoroughly researched. I learned so much, and it was a joy to read. The title is pretty specific, as far as plot: this is the story of how the US Capitol building came to be, and the politics of that during the runup to and drawdown from the Civil War. It is just so good. History and politics buffs will absolutely love it, but I think most people would really enjoy it.
April 6, 2013
Excellent detailed history of the Capitol and weaving in of Civil War material. As history buff always appreciate well written book which is also entertaining without being boorish. Others have been more eloquent in praise with which I agree. Received as Goodreads winner which had no impact on my review.
January 13, 2017
The United States Capitol is my favorite building in the world and this book gave me new insights, politics and history that I had not heard or read. I am so grateful to my friend Joe who gave it to me. Now I know more about the critical time in the Capitol's expansion and the key players who helped make it what it is today. If any of you want a tour, let me know!
August 29, 2012
A good book, with some great meticulous detail on the relationships and politics at work in making the Capitol (essentially) what it is today. If historical books on the intersection of public architecture and politics/history float your boat, you will enjoy this book.
January 4, 2013
Very interesting read about the extension of the capitol that was done just prior too and during the Civil War. One of its biggest supporter was none other then Jefferson Davis, thats right... many more intrigues about its building.
January 25, 2013
Wonderful book on the expansion of the Capitol building and the dome. It details the political battles and the dedication of the engineer in charge to avoid allowing the project to be a source of corruption, inferior materials, and shoddy construction. A fascinating story, well told.
September 5, 2016
Absolutely riveting account of not just what it took for the Capitol to become whatnot is today but the ever present pull of slavery threatening and eventually breaking the Union. The book also provides a revealing look at the two sides of Jefferson Davis, which was fascinating.
January 6, 2013
Fascinating to find out who the players were in designing the Capitol, and reading about the political battles in getting it done.
February 12, 2014
Strong historical! Loved it
July 5, 2013
Excellent book about events leading up to the civil was
August 3, 2013
Was expecting something different based on title. Did enjoy historical aspects. History buffs should add to TBR list.
January 15, 2014
Great to read if you have interest in the civil war history, architecture, or Washington DC history. I really enjoyed the story, though it was a bit laborious with numbers in parts.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews