North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh, 1941 Vintage Photo

This vintage photograph, taken by Frances Benjamin Johnston, captures a significant architectural landmark in Raleigh, North Carolina, specifically in Wake County. The building depicted is the North Carolina State Capitol, constructed between 1833 and 1840. This structure is notable as the first state house completed in the area in 1796, which tragically burned down in 1831.

The North Carolina State Capitol is characterized by its elegant columns, domes, and porticoes, reflecting the architectural style of the period. It serves as a vital piece of North Carolinas political history and heritage, symbolizing the states governance for nearly two centuries.

This image is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, archived in the Library of Congress. It was published in Thomas Tileston Watermans The Early Architecture of North Carolina in 1941. Such historical photographs provide a glimpse into the past and contribute to the understanding of American architectural evolution.

KNOWOLs historic images connect the rich stories and imagery of our past. A statement in any room, each is printed on museum-quality paper using a restored version of the original.