The First Cupola

1769-1774

Just as the Articles of Confederation did not effectively govern the country, the first dome of the State House at Annapolis did not survive more than a decade of Maryland weather. In 1769, the General Assembly of Maryland passed an act to erect a new state house, securely covered with slate tile or lead1. The architect of the first plan is uncertain, but the undertaker or builder of the project was superintendent Charles Wallace. According to William Eddis in 1773, the work was carried on with great dispatch and when completed would "be equal to any public edifice on the American continent" 2.

The exact date of the completion of the first dome or cupola is not known but evidence suggests that it was completed by the year 1774. In a 1773 Act of Assembly, Charles Wallace was instructed to fix an iron rod pointed with silver or gold at least six feet above the cupola 3. The General Assembley also recommended that the roof be covered with copper because the slate originally specified would require frequent repairs and cause other inconveniences. According to Charles E. Peterson's "Notes on Copper Roofing in America to 1802", it was more than likely that local copper was put on the roof to advertise the new industry of Maryland 4. Ironically, a violent storm removed most of the copper from the roof of the State House two years after its completion 5. In the Buildings of the State of Maryland at Annapolis, Morris Radoff cites a 1777 traveler's description of Annapolis which confirms that the copper covered cupola remained, despite the loss of the roof 6.

Greatly admired for its beauty, the State House at Annapolis was a site of national prominence at this time. Annapolis served as the capitol of the country from November of 1783 to June of 1784. The Continental Congress gathered under the first dome of the State House to decide the fate of the united colonies. On December 23, 1783 General George Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the Old Senate Chamber. Three weeks later, the American Revolution officially ended with the approval of the Treaty of Paris by Congress in that same room. As William Eddis predicted, the dome was greatly admired, by travelers and citizen alike, as a splendid piece of architecture in the center of the city. It was the scene of historically important events. What it was not, however, was a sound piece of architecture. By the November Session of 1784, the timbers of the first dome were completely rotted. The crowning symbol of unity, permanence, and respectability of government in Maryland posed a great threat to the building of the State House as a whole.

Introduction

The Second Dome, 1784-1787

The Second Dome, 1787-1792

The Second Dome's Completion, 1792-1797

The Franklin Rod

Conclusion


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.

Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
© Copyright June 10, 2002Maryland State Archives