In 1937, Congress approved the re-appropriation of the land to be used to build the National Gallery of Art. On August 20, 1937, the white marble cornerstone was dug up from the site. It contained a small metal box which was handed over to John R. Pope, architect of the Gallery of Arts. He passed it on to A. K. Shipe who had been the attorney of the association. On the box itself, a large gold star was present. It was believed at the time to be the star marking the spot in the former train station where President James A. Garfield had been shot.