Veneration of the Republic in Architecture

Reflection on Susan McWilliams’s Constitution Day Presentation

Last class’s discussion on the veneration of the Constitution caused me to recall Professor Susan McWilliams’s Constitution Day presentation on the importance of architecture to many of America’s founders. While promoting republic values was a very real concern, it was important that any promotion would be done non-intrusively on the individual’s daily life while still being ever present. She pointed out that many of the founding fathers were very concerned with “founding stones” rather than “foundational documents”(e.g. treaties). One of the ways they wanted to promote republic values (Professor McWilliams mentioned seven different ways exactly, mirroring the seven articles of the Constitution) was by using the architecture of public spaces to give the power of democracy a sense of divinity. Independence Hall (click here for images), for example, is based on the Christ Church (click here for images) and thereby showcases a reverence for democracy. In class we also discussed how it appears as if the Declaration of Independence is displayed on an altar. We usually refer to written works for an understanding of the founding pillars of the United States. However, the buildings designed by the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution also lend interesting interpretations and representations of the republic’s values.

The other arguments Professor McWilliams presented were also pretty interesting, and I’ll probably post something on them as they become relevant. Let me know if you want a copy of my notes from the presentation!