Between the roofline of the large dome and the third floor there is a terra cotta frieze with dimensional figures depicting scenes of America's past. These vignettes are separated by five busts of famous or representative individuals. The choices for the "historical" scenes and individuals for the bust portraits reflect the interests and beliefs of the time period. Furthest left is a scene of Native Americans, representing pre-settlement of America. It is titled "Native American (1670)". Men are depicted on horseback, and women and children are also present. Next to that scene is a bust of Christopher Columbus. To his right the vignette is a farming scene titled "Early Settler (1760)." It depicts a farmer with a basket of potatoes, who is shown with his harvest, while cattle graze. To its right is a bust of George Washington, followed by a scene of workers on the dock titled "Maritime (1840)." To the right is a bust of Elias Howe Jr., a prominent figure in Bridgeport, and the man credited with the first patent for a workable sewing machine. To the right of Howe is a scene of marching Union soldiers, titled "Civil War (1861)." Beside that scene is a bust of General Winfield Scott, whose dedication to the improvement of the U. S. military, and service in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War, made him famous. To the right of Scott is a vignette of four men titled "Industrial Revolution (1870)." One man has a cart, and the group appears to be in a rail yard. To the right is a bust of President Grover Cleveland, which marks the end of the frieze. Henri Plasschaert's signature is included in the frieze near the hoof of a horse; it is unusual to have a signature in this type of work.
