United States Capitol

. US Capitol in daylight, taken by Kmccoy 2004-05-04. ... US Capitol in daylight, taken by Kmccoy 2004-05-04. ...

The United States Capitol is the building which serves as home for the legislative branch of the United States government. It is located atop Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The building is characterized by a central dome (inspired as much by St Paul's Cathedral, London, as by St. Peter's, Rome) and two wings—one for each branch of Congress. The north wing is home of the Senate and the south wing is home of the House of Representatives. Capitol can refer to: A building that houses the administration of certain governments. ... Capitol Hill, aside from being the common nickname for the United States Congress, is the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington, DC, stretching easterly behind the U.S. Capitol along wide avenues. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... St Pauls Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London in London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. ... Home Rome Tours Florence Tours Venice Tours The Rest of Italy About Us Contact us About the Tours Walking Tours Private Tours About Rome Rome Resources Book Tours Conditions About Rome Tourist Information City Guide Tourist Offices Museums & Art Galleries Traditional Restaurants Ethnic Restaurants Roman Recipes Roman Diet 2000 years... Seal of the Congress. ... Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two houses of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Congress of the United States, the other being the Senate. ...

History of the Capitol Building

Photo of the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, DC, December 2003.

The Capitol when first occupied by Congress, 1800.

The current building is the fourth to serve as the U.S. capitol, after the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland (1783–1784), Federal Hall in New York (1789–1790) and Congress Hall in Philadelphia (1790–1800). This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... The Maryland State House, located in Annapolis, Maryland, is the meeting place of the Maryland General Assembly, the states legislature. ... Nickname: Americas Sailing Capital , Naptown Location in Maryland Founded  -Incorporated 1649 1708  County Anne Arundel County Mayor Ellen O. Moyer (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 19. ... 1783 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... J.Q.A. Wards statue of George Washington in front of Federal Hall, on the site where Washington was inaugurated as the first U.S. President Federal Hall, once located at 26 Wall Street in New York City, was the first capitol building of the United States. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The belltower atop Independence Hall, formerly home to the Liberty Bell. ... Independence Hall Philadelphia (sometimes referred to as Philly or the City of Brotherly Love) is the fifth most populous city in the United States and the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania, both in area and population. ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1800 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Construction of the current Capitol building began in 1793. The Senate wing was completed in 1800, while the House wing was completed in 1811. The Capitol building held its first session of U.S. Congress on November 17, 1800. Shortly after completion, it was partially burned by the British during the War of 1812. Reconstruction began in 1815, and was completed by 1830. The architect Benjamin Latrobe is principally connected with the original construction and many innovative interior features; his succesor, noted architect Charles Bulfinch, also played a major role. 1793 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1800 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Seal of the Congress. ... November 17 is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece. ... The War of 1812 was a conflict fought in North America between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815. ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1830 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Benjamin Henry Latrobe (May 1, 1764 - September 3, 1820) was an architect best known for his design of the United States Capitol. ... The Massachusetts State House, designed by Charles Bulfinch and completed in 1798. ...

The U.S. Capitol under construction, 1860.

The building was expanded dramatically in the 1850s. The original timber-framed dome of 1818 would no longer be appropriately scaled. Thomas U. Walter was responsible for the wing extensions and the "wedding cake" cast-iron dome, three times the height of the original dome and 30 m in diameter, which had to be supported on the existing masonry piers. Like Mansart's dome at Les Invalides (which he had visited in 1838), Walter's dome is double, with a large oculus in the inner dome, through which one views the Apotheosis of Washington painted on a shell suspended from the supporting ribs, which also support the visible exterior structure and the tholos that supports the Freedom, a colossal statue that was added to the top of the dome in 1863. The weight of the cast-iron for the dome has been published as 8,909,200 lb of iron (4,041,100 kg). For construction details, see links. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1354x1133, 259 KB)The U.S. Capitol under construction, 1860. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1354x1133, 259 KB)The U.S. Capitol under construction, 1860. ... Events and Trends Technology Production of steel revolutionised by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Science Charles Darwin publishes The Origin of Species, putting forward the theory of evolution... Thomas U. Walter Portrait by Francisco Pausas, 1925, after a Mathew Brady photograph Thomas Ustick Walter (September 4, 1804 – October 30, 1887) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the dean of American architecture between the death of Benjamin Latrobe and the work of H.H. Richardson. ... Jules Hardouin-Mansart, marble bust by Jean-Louis Lemoyne: a full-dress Baroque portrait bust demonstrates that the Kings architect is no mere craftsman Jules Hardouin-Mansart (Paris, April 16, 1646 – Marly, France, May 11, 1708) was a French architect whose work is generally considered to be the apex... The church at the Invalides, with its dome Les Invalides in Paris, France consists of a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement, now containing museums and monuments, all relating to Frances military history, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the buildings... Oculus is the Latin word for eye. ... The Treasure of Atreus tholos in 2004 Beehive tombs, also known as Tholos tombs (plural tholoi), are a style of Mycenaean chamber tomb from the Bronze Age. ... The Statue of Freedom is a bronze statue sculpted by Thomas Crawford, placed atop the dome of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. Freedom is a female figure who holds a sheathed sword in her right hand and her left holds a laurel wreath of victory and the shield... 1863 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

The U.S. Capitol as it appeared in 1856, before reconstruction

When the dome of the Capitol was finally completed, but to a significantly enlarged design than had initially been planned, its massive visual weight overpowered the proportions of the columns of the East Portico, built in 1828. The East Front of the Capitol building was rebuilt in 1904, following a design of the architects Carrère and Hastings, who also designed the Senate and House Office Buildings. An extended addition to the Capitol was constructed in 1958, but the historic Corinthian columns were rendered homeless, until landcape designer Russell Page created a suitable setting for them in a large meadow at the National Arboretum, where they are combined with a reflecting pool in an ensemble that reminds some visitors disconcertingly of Persepolis. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1957x1329, 569 KB)This image was scanned from: John Howard Hinton The History and Topography of the United States of North America, from the earliest period to the present time (1856, vol. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1957x1329, 569 KB)This image was scanned from: John Howard Hinton The History and Topography of the United States of North America, from the earliest period to the present time (1856, vol. ... Categories: Architectural elements | Stub ... 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... New York Public Library, central block, built 1897–1911, Carrère and Hastings, architects (June, 2003) Carrere and Hastings, the firm of John Mervin Carrère (November 9, 1858 - March 1, 1911) and Thomas Hastings (1860 - 1929), sited in New York City, was one of the outstanding Beaux-Arts architectural... 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Corinthian order as used for the portico of the Pantheon, Rome provided a prominent model for Renaissance and later architects, through the medium of engravings. ... In architecture and structural engineering, a column is that part of a structure whose purpose is to transmit through compression the weight of the structure. ... An arboretum is a botanical garden primarily devoted to trees and other woody plants, forming a living collection of trees intended at least partly for scientific study. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

The Rotunda

The Apotheosis of Washington

Located in the center of the building, topped by the capitol dome, is the Capitol rotunda. At the top of the dome is Constantino Brumidi's fresco, the Apotheosis of Washington. Various people have statues in the rotunda, including Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant. The rotunda of the Capitol is the only place where Americans can lie in state. Download high resolution version (2016x1512, 1080 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (2016x1512, 1080 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Apotheosis of Washington The Apotheosis of Washington (also known as the Apotheosis of George Washington) is a fresco in the United States Capitol painted by Constantino Brumidi in 1865. ... Constantino Brumidi Constantino Brumidi (July 26, 1805 in Rome, Italy-February 19, 1880, Washington, DC), was an Italian-American historical painter, best known and honored for his fresco work in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Brumidis father was a native of Filiatra in western Messinia, a district in... A XIV Century fresco featuring Saint Sebastian Note: Fresco is the NATO reporting name of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. ... The Apotheosis of Washington The Apotheosis of Washington (also known as the Apotheosis of George Washington) is a fresco in the United States Capitol painted by Constantino Brumidi in 1865. ... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was the 16th President of the United States (1861–1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... Ulysses Simpson Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was an American Civil War General and the 18th (1869–1877) President of the United States. ... Lying-in-state is the term used during a major funeral procession when the coffin is placed on public view to allow members of the public to pay their respects to the deceased. ...

The Capitol grounds

The Capitol Grounds cover approximately 274 acres (1.1 km²), with grounds proper consisting mostly of lawns, walkways, streets, drives, and planting areas. Today's grounds were designed by noted American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who planned the expansion and landscaping performed from 1874 to 1892. In 1875, as one of his first recommendations, Olmsted proposed the construction of the marble terraces on the north, west, and south sides of the building that we see today. Frederick Law Olmsted (April 26, 1822–August 28, 1903) was a United States landscape architect, famous for designing many well known urban parks, including Central Park in New York, New York, the countrys oldest coordinated system of public parks and parkways in Buffalo, New York, the countrys oldest...

Olmsted also designed the Summer House, the open-air brick building that sits just north of the Capitol. Three arches open into the hexagonal structure, which encloses a fountain and twenty-two brick chairs. A fourth wall holds a small window that looks onto an artificial grotto. Built between 1879 and 1881, the Summer House was intended to answer complaints that visitors to the Capitol had no place to sit or water their horses and themselves. Modern drinking fountains have since replaced Olmsted's fountain for the latter purpose, but the horses ridden by the Capitol's mounted police unit can still occasionally be seen dipping into the original stone basin. Olmsted intended to build a second, matching Summer House on the southern side of the Capitol, but Congressional objections led to the project's cancelation.

Miscellany

Capitol Hill has been the site of many major events, which draw thousands to the lawn in front of the U.S. Capitol

The Capitol houses a variety of works of art, including the National Statuary Hall Collection, which is comprised of statues donated by the fifty states to honor persons notable in their histories. Scene on Capitol Hill on June 10, 2004, as thousands wait to pay their respects to former president Ronald Reagan. ... Scene on Capitol Hill on June 10, 2004, as thousands wait to pay their respects to former president Ronald Reagan. ... The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol is comprised of statues donated by individual states to honor persons notable in their history. ...

On July 24, 1998, Russell Eugene Weston Jr. burst into the Capitol and opened fire killing two United States Capitol Police officers. He was later ruled to be incompetent to stand trial. July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The United States Capital Police are a police force charged with protecting the legislative branch of the U.S. government. ...

Currently a multimillion dollar subterranean visitors center is being constructed. Work began in 2001 and it is expected to be completed in 2006. 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Capitol is on the back of the U.S. $50 bill. 2004 Federal Reserve note - Obverse 2004 Federal Reserve note - Reverse The U.S. fifty dollar bill ($50) is a denomination of United States currency. ...

Major Events

Ronald Reagan lying in state

The United States Capitol, as well as the grounds of Capitol Hill, have played host to major events. Every year since 1990, people gather on the west lawn on the Sunday before Memorial Day for the National Memorial Day Concert, broadcast on PBS. Mourners paying their respects to Ronald Reagan as he lies in state. ... Mourners paying their respects to Ronald Reagan as he lies in state. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Relatives and others traditionally place flags near veterans headstones on Memorial Day Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the last Monday of May. ... PBS re-directs here; for alternate uses see PBS (disambiguation) PBS logo The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a non-profit public broadcasting television service with 349 member TV stations in the United States. ...

Every July 4, people gather on Capitol Hill to celebrate Independence Day. These fireworks over the Washington Monument are typical of Fourth of July celebrations In the United States, Independence Day, also called the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. ...

Among the major events the United States Capitol has hosted:

• Presidential inaugurations
• Americans lying in state. Among them:
  • President Abraham Lincoln (1865)
  • President James Garfield (1881)
  • President Warren Harding (1923)
  • President William Howard Taft (1930)
  • President Ronald Reagan (2004)
  • Capitol police officers killed in the shooting incident in 1998.

Inauguration Day is the day on which the President of the United States is sworn in and takes office. ... Lying-in-state is the term used during a major funeral procession when the coffin is placed on public view to allow members of the public to pay their respects to the deceased. ... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was the 16th President of the United States (1861–1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 - September 19, 1881) was the 20th (1881) President of the United States, the first left-handed President, and the second U.S. President to be assassinated. ... Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 - August 2, 1923) was the 29th (1921-1923) President of the United States and the sixth President to die in office. ... William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was an American politician, jurist, and the 27th President of the United States, serving a single term from 1909 to 1913. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). ...

See also

• Architect of the Capitol
• Congressional Subway
• U.S. Capitol shooting incident (1954)
• U.S. Capitol shooting incident (1998)

United States Capitol The Architect of the Capitol is responsible to the United States Congress for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, which includes the Capitol, the congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress buildings, the United States Supreme Court building, the United States... The Congressional Subway in Washington, D.C. consists of two underground electric subway systems that connect the U.S. Capitol building to the House and Senate office buildings. ... The U.S. Capitol shooting incident of 1954 was an attack on March 1, 1954 by four Puerto Rican nationalists who shot thirty rounds of a Luger and automatic pistol from the Ladies Gallery (a balcony for visitors) of the U.S. House of Representatives into the floor of the...

External links

United States Capitol at sunset.

• Architect of the Capitol Website
• National Capitol Columns
• Capitol Visitors Center
• WashingtonPost.com: Protection vs. 'the People's House'
• Cupolas of Capitalism Gallery - United States Capitol (1 of 8)
• U.S. Senate: Visitors Center Home
• Temple of Liberty: Building the Capitol for a New Nation
• "Examining the Capitol dome," in Civil Engineering Magazine, October 2000
• Arbor Friends, Spring 1999: Take the Tram Tour for a Taste of the Arboretum's Pleasures
• Balloon View of Washington DC showing Construction of US Capitol
• Maps and aerial photos