America in Focus: Capturing the Milestone Moments in Our Nation’s History

From the construction of the Capitol to Yellowstone and the Wright brothers’ first flight, these photographs capture the milestones that shaped America.

The United States Capitol Building’s new cast-iron dome was still under construction during Abraham Lincoln’s first inauguration as president in Washington on March 4, 1861. Fotosearch/Getty Images

California Gold Rush

Many Chinese immigrants came to the United States during the California Gold Rush, drawn by the promise of gold. They eventually became a significant source of labor for the developing economy of the West, initially working in mines before shifting to industries like agriculture, factory production, and the construction of the transcontinental railroad. This image depicts a group of white and Chinese gold miners operating a sluice box at Auburn Ravine, Calif., in 1852. (Fotosearch/Getty Images)

Women in War