Editing Thomas Ustick Walter (section)

== Later Career ==

Walter returned to Philadelphia after leaving the Capitol position in 1865, resuming private practice during a period of changing architectural fashion. Greek Revival had yielded to Victorian eclecticism, and Walter adapted to new conditions while maintaining the classical foundation of his training. Later works showed engagement with contemporary styles while retaining the proportion and dignity that characterized his earlier buildings. He remained active in professional affairs, serving as president of the American Institute of Architects and advocating for professional standards.<ref name="tatum"/>

Walter died in Philadelphia in 1887, having witnessed the transformation of American architecture from Greek Revival austerity to Victorian profusion. His career spanned the most significant period of American architectural development, and his buildings—particularly Girard College and the Capitol dome—shaped the nation's architectural identity. The dome's omnipresence in American imagery ensures that Walter's work, however anonymously, reaches every citizen who encounters representations of their government.<ref name="gilchrist"/>