October 1, 1954 - May 24, 1970 (died in office).

J. George Stewart was appointed Architect of the Capitol in 1954 to fill the vacancy caused by David Lynn's retirement. Like his two predecessors, Stewart was not an architect, but unlike Woods and Lynn, he had no prior experience with the Architect of the Capitol's office. He is best remembered as the Architect of the Capitol who extended the east central front of the U.S. Capitol (1955-1962).

Other projects carried out by Stewart included completion of the New (Dirksen) Senate Office Building and connecting subway system, the continued improvement and expansion of the Capitol Power Plant, the construction of the Rayburn House Office Building and its connecting subway system, and the House underground garages. In addition, preliminary plans for the James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of Congress were drawn under Stewart's direction.

Stewart portrait in the U.S. Capitol's Cox Corridors.
Stewart portrait in the U.S. Capitol's Cox Corridors.

Stewart was born in 1890 in Delaware. He attended the University of Delaware but quit in his junior year to join his father’s construction business. In 1934 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served a single term. After his reelection defeat, Stewart held a number of political appointments and was named Architect of the Capitol upon the recommendation of Speaker Joe Martin. Stewart died in office in 1970.

Related Places

Stewart's Legacy

Each Architect of the Capitol helped shape the iconic buildings and grounds we know today.

Wide angle view of U.S. Capitol Building

U.S. Capitol Building

At the U.S. Capitol Building the Senate and the House of Representatives come together to discuss, debate and deliberate national policy; develop consensus; and craft the country's laws.
Exterior view of a building.

Dirksen Senate Office Building

The Everett McKinley Dirksen Senate Office Building was the second of three office buildings constructed for the United States Senate.

Capitol Power Plant

The Capitol Power Plant provides steam and chilled water used to heat and cool buildings throughout the U.S. Capitol campus.
Exterior view of a building.

Rayburn House Office Building

The Rayburn House Office Building is the third and largest office building constructed for the use of the House of Representatives; it contains three artworks depicting its namesake. It occupies a site south of the Capitol bounded by Independence Avenue, South Capitol Street, C Street SW and First Street SW.
Exterior view of a building.

James Madison Memorial Building

The Madison Building is an unusual combination of a national shrine contained in a working building serving both as the Library's third major structure and as this nation's official memorial to President James Madison.