With a skeleton plan herewith exhibited the following explanatory statement is respectfully presented as a report of progress in the study of the design of the Capitol grounds.

The chief object of the study is to determine the best means of sustaining and supporting the Capitol building consistently with convenience of approach to it.

The field of operations being small, relatively to the imposing dimensions of the building, the elements of the plan must be few, large and simple.

On the East side it is necessary that there should be an open carriage court extending the full length of the building about one hundred feet in width, essentially as at present.

Approaches to this court are desirable from the several streets, fourteen in number, leading from all sides toward the Capitol. These fourteen approaches are designed to be reduced by converging junctions to seven, three to enter the court at each end and one opposite the main portico.

Those from the East are to be so laid out as to leave two unbroken plats of ground, elliptical in form, each five hundred feet in length and four hundred feet in breadth. These plats are designed to have a gently undulating, nearly flat, surface of turf broken and shaded only by a few groups of trees.

To enter the grounds in carriages from the approaching streets on the East, a reduction of six feet in the present surface is required at three points and the excavation must be continued over the greater part of the distance to the foot of the stairs of the porticos. The general surface of the ground must be so far conformed to that of the roads that the removal of the trees along the eastern border of the grounds is a necessity.

The ultimate character of the grounds east of the building would, under this arrangement, be park like; the surface nearly flat, the roads and walks laid out in long curves, and the trees large, umbrageous and standing in natural groups. The only artificial decoration proposed beyond the court will be in the form of three fountains at the junction of roads near the entrances and at the greatest distance from the building.

The groups of trees would be so disposed that, when full grown, views of the building would be had from a distance in seven different directions, two of these being complete perspectives of the whole front.

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“Skeleton Plan” For U.S. Capitol Grounds [c. 1874)
The plan shows the arrangement of paths on the West grounds as described in Olmsted’s letter of June 9, 1874, but also shows his later extension of East Capitol Street in Capitol grounds.

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The best of the trees now standing in the two groves nearest the Capitol building are not intended to be removed.

On the west it is assumed that the breadth of the terrace which is now but thirty feet will be enlarged to fifty feet, and that the present façade of the old capitol will eventually be replaced by a wall of marble corresponding in dimensions and architectural character to those of the wings. Grand staircases are proposed leading from the terrace on each side of this central building to the natural surface of the ground below. In each of these staircases there would be three broad landings and the landings on each side would be connected by terraces, sustained by retaining walls of masonry, suitably decorated. The effect would be to greatly increase the apparent height and massiveness of that part of the building supporting the dome and to establish a relative proportion between these two parts of the structure which it is believed would be much more satisfactory than that now existing. The avenue extending from the foot of the present narrow stairs to the public garden, which consists chiefly of poor and short-lived trees, is proposed to be obliterated so that the whole support of the dome in the staircases, central terraces and the façade of the central building would be disclosed to view from a distance.

The diagonal avenues leading from the foot of the old narrow stairs to Pennsylvania and Maryland Avenues are proposed to be retained.

A broad walk leading each way from the foot of the grand staircase on the level of the present surface is intended to extend north and south beyond the ends of the building where it would connect with walks leading from the several western entrances to the court on the East.

The only important structural features contemplated have thus been described.

All the spaces between the walks and roads are designed to have a gently sloping surface broken only by a few groups of large trees, but a nearly continuous grove would follow and shade the principal approaches and, with the exception already indicated, all of the borders of the ground.