united_states capitol cornerstone laying united_states capitol cornerstone laying ceremonial placement cornerstone united_states capitol september cornerstone laid president united_states george_washington assisted grand master maryland ritual items ritual cornerstone ceremony currently placement foundation stones important buildings greater washington area centennial capitol cornerstone laying held respectively ritual announced background workers began foundations united_states capitol july construction foundation building commissioner wrote members capitol commission suggesting cornerstone ceremony held september meeting commission agreed stuart setting date ceremony little weeks later ceremony september president united_states george_washington entourage crossed arrive city washington joined escort consisting alexandria members virginia maryland proceeded construction grounds approximately miles away site capitol washington received grand master silver plaque fashioned georgetown handed washington stepped foundation trench placed plaque cornerstone lowered plaque inscribed brief tribute military washington dedicated building year second term presidency george_washington year masonry washington accompanied carrying sacrifices corn wine oil struck stone times prescribed custom washington exited trench ritual chanting assembled gun salute gun state alexandria volunteer artillery clark delivered short invocation pounds slaughtered subsequent history artifacts apron worn washington cornerstone laying according popular belief years earlier gifted washington contemporary research indicates case apron currently owned washington ceremony display united_states capitol visitor center cornerstone laying occasionally cornerstone ceremonies important buildings washington metropolitan area including british embassy thomas jefferson memorial strike cornerstone times given washington master lodge maryland death donated lodge family lodge kept meeting place placed vault branch remains today occasionally removed important cornerstone ceremonies including precise location cornerstone lost centuries following ceremony attack multiple expansions original building architect capitol following protracted search involving use ground penetrating radar electromagnetic induction induced announced found large stone buried beneath section foundation obviously ceremonial stone declared probably cornerstone building sign original silver plaque discovered experts believe destroyed construction senate chambers centennial centennial capitol roughly modeled cornerstone ceremony organized september pre ceremonial parade proceeded route followed washington entourage led president rode presidential state coach accompanied squadron united_states_army cavalry president followed ceremonial escort formed divisions division consisted friendly societies second division formed contingents lineage societies including sons revolution division included federal military forces including units fourth division consisted local fire brigades capitol united_states marine band provided music accompanied person choir opening remarks delivered cleveland followed hour speech member grandson according news reports day spectators attended event modest occurred september organized architect capitol george white appointment architect capitol white mason sight rarely mode initiation grand master instantly raises degree master mason ceremony attended grand united_states time white announced occur friday september depictions cornerstone laying historical artist commissioned paint accurate representation ceremony oil canvas painting currently hangs seat mural depicting washington laying cornerstone capitol different mural chambers painted cox depicts cornerstone ceremony
United States Capitol cornerstone laying