Jonah Patel
The United States Capitol, also known as the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. Located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Capitol has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for over two centuries. The building combines 19th-century neoclassical architecture with aesthetics, evoking the ideals that guided the nation's founders as they framed their new republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington, D.C., at the eastern end of the National Mall on a plateau 88 feet above the level of the Potomac River |
| Construction began | 1793 |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical, combining ancient Greek and Roman designs |
| Floor area | Approximately 16.5 acres |
| Ground area | 175,170 square feet (4 acres) |
| Length | 751 feet, 4 inches |
| Width | 350 feet |
| Height | 288 feet |
| Rooms | Approximately 540-600 |
| Windows | 658 |
| Doorways | Approximately 850 |
| Meeting chambers | Senate and House of Representatives |
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What You'll Learn
The Capitol is the seat of the US Congress
The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the US Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended and restored since its construction began in 1793. Today, it covers 1.5 million square feet, has over 600 rooms, and miles of corridors. It is crowned by a magnificent white dome that has become an iconic symbol of the American people and government.
The Capitol was designed by Pierre L'Enfant and selected by President George Washington. Construction began shortly after its selection in 1793. The building combines function with aesthetics, with its design inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. The central sections of the present building were completed in 1800 but were partly destroyed in 1814 during the Burning of Washington. It was fully restored within five years and enlarged in the 1850s by extending the wings to accommodate the chambers for the bicameral legislature.
The second floor holds the Chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the offices of the congressional leadership. This floor also contains three major public areas. In the centre under the dome is the Rotunda, a circular ceremonial space that also serves as a gallery of paintings and sculptures depicting significant people and events in the nation's history. The semicircular chamber south of the Rotunda served as the Hall of the House until 1857 and now houses part of the Capitol's collection of statues donated by the states. The Old Senate Chamber, used by the Senate until 1859, has been restored to its mid-19th-century appearance.
The Capitol is a highly secure building. The United States Capitol Police have installed checkpoints to inspect vehicles and screen visitors and their belongings. The Capitol is a popular tourist destination, attracting an estimated 3-5 million visitors from around the world each year.
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It is located on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C
The United States Capitol, often referred to as the Capitol or Capitol Building, is the seat of the US Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill, at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The building is situated 88 feet above the level of the Potomac River, offering a westward view across the US Capitol Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.
The Capitol is a symbol of the American people and their government, and it is where the nation's legislature meets. It has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for over two centuries. The Senate and the House of Representatives gather here to discuss, debate, and deliberate on national policy, develop consensus, and craft the country's laws.
The Capitol's design was selected by President George Washington in 1793, and construction began shortly thereafter. The neoclassical design evokes the ideals that guided the nation's founders as they framed their new republic. The building has since been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored. Central sections of the present building were completed in 1800 but were partly destroyed in the 1814 Burning of Washington. It was fully restored within five years and enlarged in the 1850s to accommodate the growing number of legislators.
Today, the Capitol covers over 1.5 million square feet, with more than 600 rooms and miles of corridors. It is crowned by a magnificent white dome that overlooks the city of Washington and has become an iconic symbol of the American people and government. The building is visited by an estimated 3-5 million people from around the world each year.
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The building combines function with aesthetics
The United States Capitol, often referred to as the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. It is a fine example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture, with designs derived from ancient Greece and Rome that evoke the ideals that guided the nation's founders as they framed their new republic. The building combines function with aesthetics. As the building was expanded from its original design, harmony with the existing portions was carefully maintained.
The Capitol covers a ground area of 175,170 square feet, or about 4 acres, and has a floor area of approximately 16.5 acres. Its length, from north to south, is 751 feet and 4 inches, and its greatest width, including approaches, is 350 feet. The building contains approximately 540 rooms, 658 windows (108 in the dome alone), and about 850 doorways. It is divided into five levels.
The second floor holds the Chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the offices of the congressional leadership. This floor also contains three major public areas: the Rotunda, a circular ceremonial space that also serves as a gallery of paintings and sculptures; the National Statuary Hall, which houses part of the Capitol's collection of statues donated by the states; and the Old Senate Chamber, which has been restored to its mid-19th-century appearance.
The Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored. As the nation has grown, so has the Capitol. It is crowned by a magnificent white dome that overlooks the city of Washington and has become a widely recognized icon of the American people and government.
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It has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended and restored
The United States Capitol Building, located in Washington, D.C., is an iconic example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture. Its design was chosen by President George Washington in 1793, and construction commenced shortly after. Since then, the Capitol has undergone several transformations, including being built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored.
The Capitol has served as the meeting place of the Senate and the House of Representatives for over two centuries. The building has been expanded from its original design, carefully maintaining harmony with the existing portions. Today, it covers approximately 1.5 million square feet, with over 600 rooms and miles of corridors.
The Capitol has experienced several periods of construction and restoration. In 1803, Benjamin Henry Latrobe was tasked with completing the north and south wings, which suffered from structural issues. Latrobe demolished, redesigned, and rebuilt the interiors, designing the Supreme Court and Senate chambers. Charles Bulfinch, Latrobe's successor, continued the restoration of the north and south wings and constructed the central section, which was topped with a copper-covered wooden dome.
In the 1850s, the building underwent another significant expansion. The wings were extended to accommodate the bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives in the south wing and the Senate in the north wing. This expansion included the addition of three major public areas: the Rotunda, the National Statuary Hall, and the Old Senate Chamber.
The Capitol has also undergone more recent renovations and extensions. In 1904, the East Front was rebuilt, and in 1958, a major expansion began with the extension of the East Portico. The dome was restored in 1960, and a connecting extension in 1962 repurposed an outside wall as an inside wall. Today, the Capitol stands as a monument to its builders and the American people, housing both a museum of American art and history and the active chambers of Congress.
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The Capitol is a museum of American art and history
The United States Capitol, often referred to as the Capitol or Capitol Building, is the seat of the US Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. Located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the Capitol is a monument to the American people and their government. It is also a museum of American art and history.
The Capitol is a fine example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture, with designs derived from ancient Greece and Rome, reflecting the ideals of the nation's founders. Construction began in 1793, and since then, the building has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored. Today, it covers over 1.5 million square feet, with over 600 rooms and miles of corridors. It is crowned by a magnificent white dome that has become an iconic symbol of the American people and government.
The Capitol houses the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, where lawmakers come together to discuss, debate, and deliberate national policy. The second floor holds the Chambers of the House of Representatives in the south wing and the Senate in the north wing, as well as the offices of the congressional leadership. This floor also contains three major public areas: the Rotunda, the National Statuary Hall, and the Old Senate Chamber.
The Rotunda, located under the dome, is a circular ceremonial space that also serves as a gallery of paintings and sculptures depicting significant people and events in the nation's history. The National Statuary Hall, which served as the Hall of the House until 1857, houses part of the Capitol's collection of statues donated by the states to commemorate notable citizens. The Old Senate Chamber, used by the Senate until 1859, has been restored to its mid-19th-century appearance.
The Capitol is not just a functional building but also a work of art in itself. Its architecture and design symbolize the ideals and values of the American people. Each year, it attracts an estimated 3-5 million visitors from around the world, who come to appreciate its beauty, learn about American history, and witness the legislative process in action.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States Capitol Building is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The Capitol Building houses the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives. This is where the two bodies come together to discuss, debate, deliberate national policy, develop consensus, and craft the country's laws.
The Capitol Building is an example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture, with designs derived from ancient Greece and Rome. It covers 175,170 square feet of ground area, has a floor area of approximately 16.5 acres, and is 751 feet and 4 inches long. It is crowned by a magnificent white dome.
Construction of the Capitol Building began in 1793, shortly after President George Washington selected its design. It has since been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored.
