This landscape of Washington D.C. as seen from Georgetown Heights was painted by Andrew Melrose. In the painting, the Capital Dome, Washington Monument, and other parts of the federal city can be seen.  In the foreground is a horse-drawn cart filled with hay. This showed that Washington D.C. was still surrounded by farmland after the Civil War. This landscape is a part of the Blair House Collection. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This landscape and seascape of New York City by Andrew Melrose was completed around 1887 and captures both the leisure and commerce of the era. The left half of the painting shows New York Harbor and the Hudson River full of ships - tugboats, freighters, and barges full of commerce and commercial goods. In contrast, the right half is Battery Park, full of families and friends leisurely strolling and enjoying the beautiful day. Melrose was born in Scotland and immigrated to the United States in the 1850s. He was known for landscapes, including several of New York City and the Hudson River.