DC Metrocentric

In 1920 the view looking east over the US Capital showed the area behind the capital decidedly less developed than it is now. The only major structures other than the Capital Dome at the time were the Library of Congress and the House and Senate office buildings. Still yet to be built was the Supreme Court, the LOC Annex and the Folger Shakespeare Theater.

The Supreme Court building was constructed between 1932–1935, and was designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert. The first session of the Supreme Court was convened on February 1, 1790, but it took some 145 years for the Supreme Court to find a permanent residence. During those years the Supreme Court lived a nomadic existence…

Initially meeting in the Royal Exchange Building in New York, the Court established chambers in Independence Hall and later in City Hall when the national capitol moved to Philadelphia in 1790. The Court moved again when the Federal government moved in 1800 to the permanent capital in Washington. Since no provision had been made for a Supreme Court building, Congress lent the Court space in the new Capitol building until 1935 went the Gilbert building was complete.