US Capitol Building: History and Design

The legislative branch of the United States government, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The United States Capitol building is located at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Capitol is the seat of the U.S. Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government.

The U.S. Capitol is known as the origin point for the street-numbering system and four quadrants of Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Capitol was built in a neoclassical style, like the principal buildings of the executive and judicial branches, and boasts a white exterior.

The east front of the Capitol was designed for receiving visitors and dignitaries, while the west front is now used for presidential inauguration ceremonies.

The Architect of the Capitol oversees the building and grounds, as well as the surrounding Capitol Complex.

The U.S. Congress was established upon ratification of the U.S. Constitution and formally began on March 4, 1789.

The United States Capitol was targeted by United Airlines Flight 93, one of the four planes hijacked on September 11, 2001.

Since the September 11th attacks, security measures around the Capitol have been significantly enhanced, including vehicle inspections, checkpoints, and barricades.

Visitors to the Capitol are screened using magnetometers and X-ray devices. Gas masks are located in both chambers for emergency situations.

The United States Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) provides a single security checkpoint for all visitors and houses educational exhibits and a food court.

The CVC was built after the killing of two Capitol police officers in 1998 and cost an estimated $621 million.

Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant designed the original layout of Washington, D.C., and his plan is still influential today.

During the early 1900s, French ambassador Jean Jules Jusserand popularized the use of L'Enfant's birth name, "Pierre Charles L'Enfant."

The U.S. Code states that the development of Washington, D.C., should follow the plans of "Peter Charles L'Enfant," acknowledging his influential role in the city's design.

Benjamin Henry Latrobe designed the corncob columns of the U.S. Capitol, using Aquia Creek sandstone and Giuseppe Franzoni's sculptures.

The U.S. Capitol features sculptures and historical elements, including the chariot clock depicting Clio, the Greek muse of history, in the National Statuary Hall.

The central part of the Capitol building, containing the dome and its supporting structure.

The original sections of the Capitol building, built in 1793 and occupied in 1800, containing the first Senate and House chambers.

The expanded sections of the Capitol, built later to accommodate the larger Congress, housing the current Senate and House chambers.

A series of murals by Italian American artist Constantino Brumidi, located in the hallways of the first floor of the Senate side of the Capitol, depicting significant moments and figures from American history.

The architectural style of the Capitol building, characterized by classical elements and a focus on symmetry and balance.

A 33.5-foot extension of the East Front of the Capitol built in 1958, creating a new entrance for visitors.

A massive underground complex built from 2001 to 2008 to provide a grand entrance for visitors and other facilities.

The process of restoring the Capitol dome which began in 2014 and was completed before the 2017 Presidential Inauguration.

The original sandstone columns from the East Front of the Capitol, now displayed at the U.S. National Arboretum.

A system of tunnels and subways connecting the Capitol building with nearby Congressional office buildings.

Designation of rooms in the Capitol as 'S' (Senate) or 'H' (House) based on their location in the Senate or House wings.

Flagpoles on the roofs of the Senate and House chambers that fly the U.S. flag when either chamber is in session.

The reenactment of the laying of the Capitol's cornerstone by George Washington, marking the Capitol's bicentennial in 1993.

The Capitol building's inclusion in the 'America's Favorite Architecture' list, ranking #6 in a 2007 survey.

The Capitol's architectural design draws inspiration from notable buildings in Europe, including St. Peter's Basilica and St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Capitol's dome is accessed via a 365-step staircase, symbolizing each day of the year.

Friday Jummah prayers are held in the Capitol basement for Muslim staffers.

The Capitol's height is not regulated by building height laws, despite being a prominent landmark.

The House of Representatives Chamber features 448 permanent seats, but representatives can sit anywhere.

The House Chamber hosts joint sessions of Congress, including the State of the Union address.

The House Chamber is adorned with relief portraits of influential lawgivers from Western and Near Eastern history.

The United States national motto, 'In God We Trust,' is prominently displayed in the House Chamber.

The current Senate Chamber opened in 1859 and features busts of past Vice Presidents.

The National Statuary Hall is dedicated to sculptures of influential Americans, housed in a grand, two-story room.

The Old Senate Chamber served as the Senate's legislative chamber from 1810 to 1859 and later as the Supreme Court chamber.

The Capitol Grounds encompass 274 acres, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, featuring lawns, walkways, and sculptures.

Olmsted's design included marble terraces to address the Capitol's westward placement on the hill.

The open-air Summerhouse, designed by Olmsted, offers seating and a fountain for visitors.

Two flagpoles at the dome's base fly the American flag day and night since World War I.

The Capitol hosts major events like presidential inaugurations, Independence Day celebrations, and National Memorial Day Concert.

An artwork depicting George Washington surrounded by figures representing the 13 original colonies, Greek and Roman gods, and goddesses, located in the Rotunda of the US Capitol.

A series of paintings depicting important events in American history, located around the inside base of the Capitol's Rotunda dome

A collection of statues donated by each state to honor notable individuals in their history, housed in the Capitol.

A large room located on the ground floor of the Capitol, originally intended as George Washington's burial place.

A massive bust of Abraham Lincoln sculpted by Gutzon Borglum, currently located in the Crypt of the Capitol.

The area on the House side of the Capitol, home to 28 fluted columns, and statues from the National Statuary Hall Collection.

The process of preserving a body of a deceased person in the United States Capitol for public viewing.

A platform used for supporting coffins when someone is lying in state or being honored in the Capitol.

A historical spa-like facility designed for members of Congress and their guests, located in the basement of the Capitol Building.

The event when the state of Hawaii was admitted to the United States of America.

The first statue moved into the Emancipation Hall, representing Po'pay from the state of New Mexico.

A famous bronze statue of King Kamehameha, originally housed in the National Statuary Hall, now located in Emancipation Hall.

The depiction of a person who is regarded as divine or exalted to a god-like status.

A chronological, pictorial history of the United States from the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Wright Brothers' flight.

The point on the floor of the Capitol where Washington D.C. is divided into its four quadrants.

The original name for the building that would house the Congress, later renamed to "Capitol" by Thomas Jefferson.

The central point of L'Enfant's city plan, a prominent hill chosen for the location of the Congress House.

A grand avenue designed by L'Enfant as a public walkway connecting the President's House to the Congress House.

A large public space designed by L'Enfant to stretch across the city, later becoming known as the National Mall.

The term used to refer to the Capitol building, derived from the Latin word for Capitoline Hill in Rome.

The building where the House of Burgesses met in Virginia, which was the first building to be called ""Capitol"".

The person responsible for the initial design of the Capitol building, who was inspired by the Louvre and the Pantheon.

The architect who served as a draftsman for L'Enfant and submitted a design for the Capitol, featuring a "great circular room and dome".

A meeting convened by Jefferson to address problems with Thornton's design for the Capitol, involving key architects and officials.

The architectural style that influenced the design of the Capitol, characterized by grandeur, symmetry, and classical elements.

The building that was originally called the "President's House" and later became known as the "Executive Mansion".

The person who was hired as Superintendent of Construction but resigned due to dissatisfaction with Thornton's plan and the work's quality.

The year when both the Senate and House of Representatives held their first session of the U.S. Congress in the incomplete Capitol building.

The year when the House of Representatives moved into their designated wing of the Capitol building, though the building was still under construction.

The year when the South wing of the Capitol, designated for the House of Representatives, was finally completed after a few years of work.

The relocation of the National Legislature to Washington D.C. at the urging of President John Adams, in hopes of gaining enough Southern votes for his re-election as President, was based on political maneuvering.

Benjamin Henry Latrobe, appointed by James Madison in 1803, was tasked with the primary responsibility of overseeing the completion of the Capitol's south and north wings.

The North Wing of the Capitol, despite only being occupied for six years, suffered from significant structural issues, including falling plaster, rotting floors, and a leaky roof. Latrobe demolished, redesigned, and rebuilt the interiors while preserving the existing brick and sandstone walls.

Latrobe designed the chambers for both the Supreme Court and the Senate, with the Supreme Court chamber being a noteworthy architectural achievement due to its unique vaulted, semi-circular ceiling, unprecedented in the United States at that time.

From the time the federal government moved to Washington D.C. in 1800, the Capitol building was used for both government functions and Sunday religious services. These services were held in various spaces, including the House of Representatives' hall, the 'Oven', and eventually the House Chamber.

During the presidencies of Jefferson and Madison, Sunday services in the Capitol became a regular practice, showcasing the country's blend of religious and political life.

The practice of holding Sunday services in the House of Representatives continued until after the Civil War. It was tolerated by Jefferson due to the services being nondiscriminatory and voluntary, accommodating preachers from various Protestant denominations and even Catholic priests starting in 1826.

In 1806, a female evangelist named Dorothy Ripley surprised the nation by delivering a fervent sermon in the House Chamber to Jefferson, Vice President Aaron Burr, and a large audience, highlighting the diverse religious landscape of the time.

The Capitol was partially destroyed by the British during the War of 1812, necessitating a major reconstruction effort.

Following the Capitol's destruction, Latrobe was rehired to oversee the restoration work, working alongside military engineers George Bomford and Joseph Gardner Swift.

The post-war reconstruction of the Capitol, completed by 1819, involved the redesigning of chambers for both the Senate and House wings, with Congress meeting in the temporary Old Brick Capitol during the process.

As the nation expanded, it became clear that the Capitol could no longer accommodate the increasing number of legislators. In response, President Millard Fillmore commissioned architect Thomas U. Walter to lead the expansion project in the 1850s.

The expansion of the Capitol in the 1850s significantly impacted the size and stature of the building. It doubled its length and dwarfed the original dome, leading to its eventual removal and replacement with the iconic cast-iron dome.

The new cast-iron dome designed by Thomas U. Walter was significantly larger and taller than its predecessor, requiring intricate engineering to support its weight on existing masonry piers.

Walter's new dome design drew inspiration from Mansart's dome at Les Invalides in Paris, featuring a double structure with an oculus providing a view of the Apotheosis of Washington painting.