General Description
The Sherman Building was constructed as the first hospital, dormitory, and administrative building of the Military Asylum and represents the first phase of construction at the Home. Executed by master builder and stonemason Gilbert Cameron of New York, the building was designed to recapitulate architectural details found in the Smithsonian Institution. Alterations and additions that have substantially impacted its original style and massing have been constructed since the building was first completed and occupied in June 1857. The alterations begun in 1869 included the addition of an upper story to the tower and a Second Empire-style mansard roof. By the conclusion of the alterations in 1872, the Sherman Annex (Building 15) was located on the north elevation of the building. The alterations and additions begun in 1887 eliminated the mansard roof and resulted in the Richardsonian Romanesque style collectively presented by the Sherman Building, Sherman Annex (Building 15), and Sherman North (Building 16). The resulting monumental design expresses the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which was practiced by Henry H. Richardson in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The building incorporates semi-circular arches, paired and triple windows with hooded molding and label stops, crenellated parapet walls, rounded corbelling, and towers with pinnacles. The Sherman Building is the second most recognized structure at the Home, the first being the Lincoln Cottage (Building 12).
The Soldiers Home played a key role in the defense of Washington during the July 1864 advance by Confederate general Jubal A. Earlys Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. Earlys clear target was the weakest link in the ring of defenses guarding the city Fort Stevens on the Seventh Street Turnpike. Once inside the city the troops planned on advancing onward to the Soldiers Home to kidnap the President. Fearful of such attempts Secretary of War Stanton insisted that the Lincolns return immediately (July 10, 1864) to the White House, where they could be better protected. With the first family now protected, activities at the Soldiers Home could be focused on the defense of the city of Washington. Lieutenant P.H. Niles of the United States Army Signal Corps was ordered by Captain W.B. Roe, Chief Signal Officer, to establish a post atop the main hall of the Soldiers Home just across from the presidential cottage. From the tower of Building 14 Niles could communicate with all of the forts north of the Potomac River. J. Willard Brown, in The Signal Corps, U.S.A. in the War of the Rebellion, explains that this station proved to be of much importance, as communication could be held through it direct from the provost-marshals building in the city to any of the forts in the department. General Jubal Earlys conclusion that the weather and the signal station at the Soldiers Home had prevented his advance. Early wrote We could not move to the right or left without its being discovered from a signal station on the top of the Soldiers Home. The continuous relay of furiously waving flags forced the Army of Northern Virginia to head back towards the Shenandoah Valley in western Virginia on July 12th and saved the city of Washington from capture. Because of alterations to the building in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the tower used during the Civil War is no longer intact.

Central Grounds (is contained within / contains)

Gilbert Cameron (Builder, was built by / built)

Barton Stone Alexander (Architect, was designed by / designed)

Wright & McDermot (Construction Firm, was built by / built)