Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way

Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way

Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way is a 33 1/4 x 43 3/8 inch painted mural currently displayed behind the Western staircase of the House of Representatives chamber in the United States Capitol Building. The mural was painted by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze in 1861 and symbolizes Manifest Destiny, the belief they the United States was destined for Western exploration and expansion originating from the initial colonies along the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific ocean.

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Leutze combined pioneer men and women, mountain guides, wagons, and mules to suggest a divinely ordained pilgrimage to the Promised Land of the western frontier. Within the left half of the picture is a depiction of the San Francisco bay which is being pointed to by the pilgrim seated atop the rock in the foreground. Within the right hemisphere of the painting is a depiction of a valley, representing the Valley of Darkness and symbolic of the troubles faced by explorers.


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  • Westward the course of empire takes its way — von Emanuel Leutze (1861) Westward the course of empire takes its way ( Westwärts nimmt der Gang des Imperiums seinen Lauf ) ist ein Zitat aus dem Gedicht On the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America (1723) des irischen Bischofs und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • In the course of — Course Course (k[=o]rs), n. [F. cours, course, L. cursus, fr. currere to run. See {Current}.] 1. The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage. [1913 Webster] And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Course — (k[=o]rs), n. [F. cours, course, L. cursus, fr. currere to run. See {Current}.] 1. The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage. [1913 Webster] And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais. Acts xxi. 7.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Westward — West ward, Westwards West wards, adv. [AS. westweard. See {West}, and { ward}. ] Toward the west; as, to ride or sail westward. [1913 Webster] Westward the course of empire takes its way. Berkeley. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • westward — 1. adjective Lying toward the west. Yond same star thats westward from the pole. . 2. adverb a) Toward the west; as, to ride or sail westward. Westward the course of empire takes its way. . b) westward …   Wiktionary

  • The romantic drama — Drama Dra ma (dr[aum] m[.a] or dr[=a] m[.a]; 277), n. [L. drama, Gr. dra^ma, fr. dra^n to do, act; cf. Lith. daryti.] 1. A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action, and intended to exhibit a picture of human life, or to depict a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • In course — Course Course (k[=o]rs), n. [F. cours, course, L. cursus, fr. currere to run. See {Current}.] 1. The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage. [1913 Webster] And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Of course — Course Course (k[=o]rs), n. [F. cours, course, L. cursus, fr. currere to run. See {Current}.] 1. The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage. [1913 Webster] And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition — The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, commonly also known as the Lewis and Clark Exposition, and officially known as the Lewis and Clark Centennial American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, was a worldwide exposition held in Portland,… …   Wikipedia

  • Westwards — Westward West ward, Westwards West wards, adv. [AS. westweard. See {West}, and { ward}. ] Toward the west; as, to ride or sail westward. [1913 Webster] Westward the course of empire takes its way. Berkeley. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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