Did You Know about the Missing Cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol Building?
11/10/08
I did not.
While watching a C-SPAN tour of the new Capitol Visitor Center, I heard the acting Architect being asked about a recent controversy regarding the cornerstone laid by President George Washington. The Architect responded that the cornerstone has not been found.
After an internet search I found the following article by Craig Shirley on the site Townhall.com. I am not familiar with either the site or Mr. Shirley, so I do not endorse them. However, the article is very interesting.
Romancing the Cornerstone
By Craig Shirley, April 2nd, 2008
“It was a beautiful day as accounts noted. September 18, 1793, found President George Washington decked out in his ceremonial Masonic apron festooned with the universal Masonic square and compass symbols.
“That day, in a Masonic ritual, the president laid the cornerstone to the U.S. Capitol along with a dedicatory silver plate.
“In a mysterious turn of events sometime thereafter, the priceless plate and cornerstone disappeared. Eluded by investigators and searches and clouded by false claims of discovery throughout the decades, the issue remains a puzzlement. Further complicating the matter is bureaucratic incompetence and a cover-up by the office of the Architect of the Capitol. “
Read the rest of the article