Skip to main content

Latrobe

U.S. Capitol
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Buildings Era: 1750-1799 DateCreated: 1793 Capitol Hill Washington State: DC Zip: C 20016 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/U-S--Capitol/ Creator: Thornton, William , Latrobe, Benjamin

The United States Capitol is among the most symbolically important and architecturally impressive buildings in the nation. Construction of the original Capitol began in 1793, but it has been through several additions and alterations. Over its lifetime, the Capitol building has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored.

YearAdded:
1986
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Jiuguang Wang (CC BY-SA 2.0) Image Caption: U.S. Capitol Era_date_from: 1793
Thomas Viaduct Railroad Bridge
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Roads & Rails Era: 1830-1839 DateCreated: 1835 Patapsco River Arbutus State: MD Zip: 21227 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Thomas-Viaduct-Railroad-Bridge/ Creator: Latrobe II, Benjamin Henry, McCartney, John

Opened in 1835, the Thomas Viaduct was the first multiple-arch, stone railroad viaduct in the United States. The viaduct is composed of eight arches each with a clear span of about 58 feet. The viaduct has an overall length of 614 feet and a height of about 60 feet above the Patapsco River. Construction of the viaduct began in August of 1833, and a ceremony marking its completion was conducted on July 4, 1835. The viaduct was constructed for the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad and is named in honor Philip E. Thomas, who served from 1827 to 1836 as the first president of the B&O.

YearAdded:
1964
Image Credit: Public Domain (National Park Service) Image Caption: Thomas Viaduct Railroad Bridge Era_date_from: 1835
Philadelphia Municipal Water Supply
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Supply & Control Era: 1800-1829 DateCreated: 1801 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy Philadelphia State: PA Zip: 19130 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Philadelphia-Municipal-Water-Supply/ Creator: Graff, Frederick , Latrobe, Benjamin

After an initial difficulty in attracting customers (who were used to getting their water from public pumps and private wells and cisterns), Philadelphia's waterworks soon couldn't keep up with demand. John Davis and Frederick Graff designed a complete remodeling of the system in 1811 so that it could supply the city's growing needs. 

YearAdded:
1974
Image Credit: Public Domain (National Park Service) Image Caption: Philadelphia Municipal Water Supply Era_date_from: 1801
Modified Fink trussed Girder bridge
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Bridges Era: 1870-1879 DateCreated: 1870 Riverside Park Lynchburg State: VI Zip: Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Fink-Deck-Truss-Bridge/ Creator: Fink, Albert

The Fink Deck Truss Bridge is thought to have been originally used on the Norfolk and Western mainline railway. It was moved to its present location and converted to a vehicular bridge over a railroad spur in 1893 when the Norfolk and Western mainline was moved. It was relocated again in 1985 to Lynchburg's Riverside Park to serve as a pedestrian bridge.

YearAdded:
1979
Image Credit: Image Caption: Modified Fink trussed Girder bridge Era_date_from: 1870
Subscribe to Latrobe

Innovations

Modified Fink trussed Girder bridge

The Fink Deck Truss Bridge is thought to have been originally used on the Norfolk and Western mainline railway. It was moved to its present location and converted to a vehicular bridge over a railroad spur in 1893 when the Norfolk and Western mainline was moved. It was relocated again in 1985 to…

Read More
Philadelphia Municipal Water Supply

After an initial difficulty in attracting customers (who were used to getting their water from public pumps and private wells and cisterns), Philadelphia's waterworks soon couldn't keep up with demand. John Davis and Frederick Graff designed a complete remodeling of the system in 1811 so that it…

Read More
Thomas Viaduct Railroad Bridge

Opened in 1835, the Thomas Viaduct was the first multiple-arch, stone railroad viaduct in the United States. The viaduct is composed of eight arches each with a clear span of about 58 feet. The viaduct has an overall length of 614 feet and a height of about 60 feet above the Patapsco River.…

Read More
U.S. Capitol

The United States Capitol is among the most symbolically important and architecturally impressive buildings in the nation. Construction of the original Capitol began in 1793, but it has been through several additions and alterations. Over its lifetime, the Capitol building has been built, burnt…

Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support America's only magazine of the history of engineering and innovation, and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to Invention & Technology.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.