Historians know that Black men helped build and later reconstruct the U.S. Capitol because of payroll records, correspondence, and construction logs from the late 1700s and early 1800s. These documents show that enslaved and free Black laborers were hired by the federal government and private contractors to quarry stone, cut timber, make bricks, and perform skilled and unskilled construction work. The city of Washington, D.C. itself relied heavily on enslaved African American labor during its early development.During the original construction of the Capitol (beginning in 1793), enslaved Black men were rented from local slaveholders in Maryland and Virginia. They worked as stonemasons’ assistants, carpenters, sawyers, and general laborers, often performing the most physically demanding and dangerous tasks. Letters from commissioners overseeing the project explicitly reference payments made for “Negro hire,” leaving little doubt about their central role in the building process.Black men also participated in the Capitol’s reconstruction after it was burned by British troops during the War of 1812. Once again, enslaved and free Black workers were employed to clear debris, rebuild walls, and restore the structure. Their contributions are documented in rebuilding contracts, government expense reports, and contemporary accounts, confirming that African American labor was essential not only to the Capitol’s creation but also to its survival and restoration.#BlackHistoryMonth #blackhistory