U.S. Capitol Building: Where the law of the land lives
Home to the U.S. Congress – and once even home to the U.S. Supreme Court -- the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., is an emblem of the American populace and their government, the gathering place of the nation's elected representatives. It also houses an important compilation of American art and it is an architectural accomplishment in its own right. It is a working office and a sightseeing attraction visited by millions annually.
Development of the Capitol began in 1793 when George Washington first laid the cornerstone, but it wasn’t until the U.S. Civil War in 1861 that the primary building was completed, with the finishing of the Capitol dome.
The heart of today’s Capitol is the Rotunda, a 96-foot-diameter spherical lobby surmounted by the Capitol’s inner dome. Evident 180 feet above is a massive fresco painted by Italian artist Constantino Brumidi. Around the perimeter, on the ground below, six groups of figures depict War, Science, Marine, Commerce, Mechanics and Agriculture.
National Statuary Hall, the Old Supreme Court Chamber and the Crypt, directly below the Rotunda, which holds statues donated by the original 13 states, are among highlights that shouldn’t be missed.
With 540 rooms divided among five levels, the U.S. Capitol is a massive building. The ground floor is allocated to congressional offices. The second floor holds the chambers of the House of Representatives in the south wing and the Senate in the north wing. The third floor is where visitors can watch the proceedings of Congress when in session. Additional offices and machinery rooms occupy the fourth floor and the basement.
Opened in 2008, the Capitol Visitor Center fulfills the need as a place for visitors to gather and view exhibitions and films, participate in guided tours and special events, greet their members of Congress, and see up close their government at work.
Tours are free, but require tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors can book tours in advance at the Capitol Visitor Center web site or through your representative’s office. Prepare for long security lines, and avoid driving to the Capitol. Instead, take a tour bus such as Tourmobile or walk from the Metrorail's Red Line at Union Station.
Posted by Jim Brown
