Bronze Doors

In previous years visitors to the Capitol passed through these famous relief doors on the east front. Lincoln would have seen them inside the building, however, because they were installed in 1863 at the entrance to the old House Chamber, now Statuary Hall. In 1871 they were moved to their present location for greater visibility.

The massive 10-ton doors are the work of Randolph Rogers, who designed them in Rome before Lincoln became president and had them cast in Germany. The panels and doorway lunette depict events in the life of Christopher Columbus.

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