George Washington with Duchess

George Washington preparing to lay the corner stone of the capitol on September 18, 1793. George Washington is shown in full Masonic Regalia accompanied by on of his favorite dogs, "Duchess". After crossing the Potomoc from Alexandria, he is likely to have prepared for the ceremony in an upper room of a small dwelling located on New Jersey, S.E., the present site of the House Office Building. This was the first meeting place for Federal Lodge No. 1, a Lodge formed by stonemasons working on the construction of the White House.