State Capitol Building, Nashville, TN
Posted by: 
hykesj
N 36° 09.931 W 086° 47.012
16S E 519469 N 4002327
The Tennessee State Capitol, William Strickland’s Greek revival masterpiece, was completed in 1859 and sits atop a hill in Nashville.
Waymark Code: WMVP9M
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 05/13/2017
Views: 7
William Strickland is mostly associated with Philadelphia where he designed so many public buildings that he became known as the “city architect.” But after receiving the commission for Tennessee’s new state house in 1845, he relocated to Nashville where he remained for the rest of his life.
The Tennessee State Capitol was William Strickland’s last major commission as he became ill and died during the latter stages of construction. You might say that he was consumed by the project because, in a macabre twist, he literally became part of the building he designed. At his own request, William Strickland’s remains were interred inside the wall of the north portico. Strickland’s son supervised the completion of the project.
And for those who can’t get enough William Strickland, he also designed the tomb of President James K. Polk which was relocated to the state capitol grounds in 1893 and sits just to the north of the capitol building.
In 1796 Tennessee became the 16th state in the Union. The stamp was issued 150 years later to commemorate this event. Besides the state capitol, it shows portraits of two colorful personalities from Tennessee’s early years: John Sevier and Andrew Jackson. Sevier was instrumental in establishing Tennessee as a state and served as the first and only governor of the unofficial State of Franklin (Tennessee before it was Tennessee). He went on to serve six terms as state governor and four terms as a congressman. Andrew Jackson represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, was a hero in the War of 1812 and was, of course, the 7th President of the United States.
It’s funny seeing these two men together on the same stamp since they didn’t get along very well during their lifetimes. Sevier called Jackson an adulterer and a “pitiful petty fogging lawyer.” Jackson, in turn, accused Sevier of fraud and bribery. Their public encounters often resulted in shouting matches and one almost ended in a duel. But now, thanks to the Tennessee Historical Commission who suggested the basic design of this commemorative, the two men enjoy peaceful co-existence on the pages of many a stamp album.
The Tennessee State Capitol is a registered National Historic Landmark and is open to the public.
Stamp Issuing Country: United States
Date of Issue: 1-Jun-1946
Denomination: 3 cents
Color: dark violet
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
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