Spotlight: Washington DC - U.S. Capitol Building

Spotlight: The Capitol Building in Washington D.C. is the seat of the United States Congress - both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Prior to establishing Washington D.C. as the nation's capital, the U.S. Congress had several homes - most notably in Independence Hall (Philadelphia) and Federal Hall (New York). The Capitol Building's original architect was William Thornton, whose neoclassical design and simplistic white exterior was chosen in a design competition proposed by Thomas Jefferson. Construction began in 1793, following a cornerstone ceremony presided over by George Washington. The Senate north wing was completed in 1800, and used by both the Senate and House of Representatives until the House of Representatives southern wing was constructed (1811). Although part of the building was burned by fire during the War of 1812, repairs were completed by 1819. As the nation grew, the number of state delegates grew too. In the mid-1800's the Capitol Building was expanded, including a new dome and the addition of the colossal Statue of Freedom. Later expansions were added during the 20th century, which necessitated the removal of the Corinthian columns - which are now displayed as the National Capitol Columns at the National Arboretum. The building was ranked #6 on the American Institute of Architects' "America's Favorite Architecture" list in 2007.

Plaster model of the Statue of Freedom

     In its early years, the Capitol Building was used for religious services on Sundays. On the roof of the Senate and House Chambers, flagpoles fly the U.S. flag when either is in session. In 2008, the Capitol Visitor Center was opened

Location: Although the Capitol Building isn't in the geographical center of the city, it forms the origin point for the District's street-numbering system and the Districts four quadrants. The official address is East Capitol Street NE & First St. SE, Washington D.C.

Cost: entrance and tours are free

Time: The Visitor Center is open from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday-Saturday except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Inauguration Day.

Description: You should begin your visit to the Capitol Building in the Capitol Building Visitor Center, located underground on the east side of the Capitol. There you will find the Exhibition Hall, gift shops, and a restaurant. Exhibition Hall displays several articles and documents that are important to our nation's culture and history. All guided tours start here, and usually begin with a 13-minute film entitled "Out of Many, One."
     On our tour, we got to see the inside of the dome, which was very impressive. We also got to see the old Supreme Court Chambers and the old congressional rooms - one of which is now Statuary Hall. The building has two statues per state to recognize famous and important individuals from each state who have contributed to the development of our nation, but due to limited space, only one from each state is displayed within Statuary Hall. While visiting each, we were told several interesting stories about events or policies that occurred there - such as the clocks being set 5 minutes early in the Supreme Court Chambers, and the acoustics that allowed John Quincy Adams to listen in, while sitting as his own desk, when the southerners huddled together to discuss their plans.

Old Supreme Court Chambers

Statuary Hall

Old Senate Chambers

The Vice-President's seat

     The Capitol Building is replete with classical murals painted by Italian/Greek American Constantino Brumidi, particularly in the Brumidi Corridors. They reflect great moments and key people in United States history, as well as animals and flora native to the United States. Perhaps his most famous mural is "The Apotheosis of Washington" beneath the top of the dome. He also started the "Frieze of American History," which depicts events such as the landing of Christopher Columbus, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Wright Brothers's Flight in Kitty Hawk, the Moon landing, etc. Four different artists have each painted scenes on this mural, including Filippo Costaggini, Charles Ayer Whipple, and Allyn Cox. Within the Rotunda, there are eight large paintings about the development of the United States.

Statue of Abraham Lincoln and painting of Yorktown

TheApotheosis of Washington under Rotunda Dome

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5) - although that rating can drop if your tour guide arrives 16 minutes late.

Things You Should Know: - Make sure you arrive early for your tour appointment so that you have enough time to pass through security.
- In order to keep visitors and staff safe and secure, as well as preserve the collections inside the building, please refer to the prohibited items list on the official website before going.
- You may bring your camera, but its use is prohibited in Exhibition Hall.
- To tour the historical areas of the Capitol Building beyond the Visitor Center, you must participate in a guided tour. Advance reservations are strongly recommended since same-day tour passes are limited and go quickly - particularly during peak visitation periods. U.S. residents can book a tour directly through the offices of their Representative or Senators. Many offer their own staff-led tours of up to 15 people, or can assist you in reserving a general tour.
- The Visitor Center is usually less crowded on weekday mornings when the Capitol first opens.
- The Senate and House galleries are open to visitors whenever either legislative body is in session. The galleries are not included as part of the U.S. Capitol tour. Passes are required to enter either gallery at any time. You may obtain gallery passes from the offices of your Senator or Representative.
 - There is very little public parking available near the Capitol. Three subway stops are within walking distance of the Capitol Building: Union Station, Capitol South, and Federal Center SW.
- Visitors may request listening devices for foreign-language versions of the films and Exhibition Hall at the Information Desks.
- There are several memorials around the Capitol building recognizing important events relating to the Capitol.

Memorial to passengers of Flight 93 (9/11)

Nearby: Library of Congress, Supreme Court Building, United States Botanical Garden, National Mall