The Capitol in 1800 Source: The Architect of the Capitol

The white marble building known as the Capitol is the seat of the U.S. Congress, having housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for over two hundred years. Begun in 1793, the Capitol, located in Washington, D.C., has been burned, rebuilt, restored, and extended. It is one of the most important representations for United States citizens of their capital city and their government, as well as being a museum of American art and history.

Before 1791, the federal government did not have a permanent site. In 1788 and in 1789, the states of Maryland and Virginia ceded land to the government; from that land, then-President George Washington selected the area that would become the District of Columbia. Once the city was surveyed and planned, the Capitol was located on a hill at the east end of the Mall.

Created in the neoclassical style of architecture, the design of the Capitol reflects the ideals of ancient Greek and Rome. The original design was made in 1792, and George Washington himself laid the cornerstone of the building in 1793. During the War of 1812, the British set fire to the Capitol, gutting the inside. Later, the Capitol was reconstructed, and although the building was completed in 1829, throughout the years it has been added on to and restored, with the new additions always carefully created to harmonize with the original structure.

The Capitol is the centerpiece of the Capitol Complex, which includes six Congressional office buildings, as well as three Library of Congress buildings built in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Capitol itself covers almost 4 acres of land. The dome, made of iron, is topped by the statue of a woman representing Freedom. The last major restoration of the Capitol was completed in 1987; the Statue of Freedom was restored in 1993.

	The Capitol Today Source: The Architect of the Capitol

Within the Capitol, the space is divided into 5 levels. The first floor holds many committee rooms, and contains several areas open to visitors. The second floor contains the chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives; it also has several areas open to visitors. One of these is the Rotunda, the area under the dome, which contains paintings and sculptures depicting many of the important people and events in America's history. The second floor also houses the National Statuary Hall, which has a collection of statues representing famous Americans from different states, and the Old Senate Chamber, which was used by the Senate until 1859. The third floor allows access to galleries from which visitors may watch the proceedings of the House and the Senate, and the fourth floor and basement levels are occupied by offices and other support areas.

Currently, a Capitol Visitor Center is being constructed. Due to be complete in 2005, the new Visitor Center will enable the government to better aid and educate the more than three million tourists who visit the Capitol each year.

Additional Web Resources

Legislative Information on the Internet
Portraiture in the U.S. Capitol
Temple of Liberty: Building the Capitol for a New Nation
The Architect of the Capitol
U.S. Geological Survey: Tour of the National Capitol

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