The H-shaped Exchange Building was designed by Benjamin Latrobe and Maximilian Godefroy,[1] and constructed under the supervision of Jacob Small beginning in 1815.

It is a noble building and of grand dimensions; the front being 255 feet by a depth of 140, having four stories, including the ground floor.

It was only built ten years since, at an expence of 200,000 dollars; but the original subscribers have sunk most of their money, from that part of the build ing which was constructed for letting out to shopkeepers and lawyers being unoccupied.An 1845 advertisement marketing the hotel within the building promised "large and airy" rooms, and that it was "located convenient to all the PRINCIPAL STEAMBOAT LANDINGS and RAILROAD DEPOTS.

"[7] Abraham Lincoln's body lay under the dome on April 21, 1865, during his multi-day funeral procession from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois.

[8] According to a history of U.S. federal buildings, the dome was "decorated with paintings of the Maryland coat of arms and seals, and representations of commerce and the 'Dignity of the United States,' and supported by 12 Ionic marble columns, quarried, cut, and polished in Italy.