Two previous Treasury buildings were destroyed by fire.  This structure was begun in 1836 and required thirty-three years to complete.  During construction in 1845, William Force wrote in the Wm. Q. Force Guide, “a noble structure – pity it were not built of something more durable than sandstone…”  Today it is completely made of granite.  The last sandstone facade, on the east side, was replaced with granite in 1908.   (Jack E. Boucher, Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress photo)