A special attraction of the US capital, which Washington is rightfully proud of, is the Capitol. Everyone has probably seen a photo of this magnificent building made of white marble. It is located on top of Capitol Hill, surrounded by other important institutions - the residence of the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. Also nearby are monuments to Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
The word "Capitol" is associated with the hill of the same name in Rome. In ancient times, the Senate met there and important popular assemblies were held. Where did such a name come from in the New World, several thousand kilometers from Rome? The hill in the United States is considered to be the center - rather, ideological than geographical - of the District of Columbia. This building has an interesting history, which you will learn by reading this article.
Building a building
The idea of building a house for the meetings of Congress belongs to George Washington. He laid the first stone in the foundation of the building. It happened on September 18, 1793. It's hard to say who was the architectbuildings, since the main architects were constantly changing, and each subsequent one brought something of his own. But the main features were designed in the Empire style. The building had not yet been completed when Congress met within its walls in 1800.
The former metropolis - Great Britain - could not come to terms with the independence of the States. In 1814, British troops burned the Capitol (Washington). It took five years to restore it. But the construction work did not end there either. From 1820 to 1827, a transition was erected between the north and south wings of the building, over which a monumental dome was built. Thirty years later, Congress decided that the US Capitol was not large enough.
Great restructuring
Already since it was deemed necessary to expand the building for the meetings of the Congress, it was decided to rethink its design. The project remained the same: classicism columns and generous Empire decor. However, unique details have been added. So, the capitals of the columns began to decorate not the bay leaves of the Mediterranean, but the "local" representatives of the flora - corn cobs and tobacco leaves. The old dome was replaced by a new, cast-iron one, eighty-seven meters high. The walls of the building were specially calculated so that they could withstand its weight of four thousand tons.
In 1863, the building was given the finishing touch. A six-meter statue of Liberty by T. Crawford was erected on the dome. So the US Capitol, the photo of which you see, has acquired a modern look. The prototype of this building is considered to be the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter, although some expertssee in it a resemblance to the Parisian Les Invalides (architect Mansart Jr.).
Interior
Throughout the 20th century, only minor and architecturally inconspicuous modernization of the building was carried out. Central heating was installed in the Capitol (Washington) and elevator shafts were installed. But by the middle of the century, this building seemed too small. Therefore, in 1960, the eastern facade was extended by ten meters. Thus, as a result of numerous reconstructions, this white marble miracle appeared on the pedestal of Capitol Hill - the Congress building.
It's as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. In 1865, the artist Constantine Brumidi decorated the dome with the first fresco in the United States. It depicts George Washington surrounded by the Olympian gods. Brumidi painted not only the dome, but also the Hall of Columns. Frescoes and friezes reflect more than two hundred years of history of the state.
Capitol-Washington: conceptual connection
Architects have worked hard to ensure that the building of the US Congress fits correctly into the city. The dome and the highly recognizable Rotunda of the Capitol can be seen from everywhere. No wonder: after all, the eighty-eight-meter-high building crowns the top of the most significant hill in the district. In addition, all the main streets of Washington lead to the Capitol, thus indicating the state symbolism of this place.
In order not to close the majestic building, there is no urban development around it. It is surrounded only by a spacious park with lawns, a commonan area of about 55 hectares. The National Mall, a kilometer and 800 meters long, connects the Congress building with two monuments: Lincoln and Washington. No less significant for Americans are the buildings nearby, which are part of the complex of government institutions: the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. Previously, they were in the premises of the Capitol. The sessions of the Court were moved to a new building only in 1935.
Tours of the Capitol Building in Washington DC
Every year, the most famous building in the United States is visited by about four and a half million tourists. Currently, there are about 540 rooms in the white marble building of the Capitol. However, tourists are allowed only at two. You can only go inside as part of a guided tour. However, they are absolutely free in the Capitol. You just need to present your passport at the box office and take a ticket with a number.
The group is immediately escorted to the upper floors, as the bottom two are occupied by simple office space. Above are the House of Representatives (in the south wing) and the Senate (in the north). Above these halls there are special loggias for the public, because all meetings of the Government are not hidden from the people. Transparency (transparency) is the first rule of democracy. The elevator will take tourists to the top floor, to the observation deck, which offers a stunning panorama of the city. Unfortunately, the Statue of Liberty can only be seen from below with binoculars. She is interesting because her robe has a fringe - a kind of tribute to the indigenous people of North America.
Functionality
VeryIt is important to emphasize that the Capitol (Washington) is not only an architectural masterpiece. In addition to aesthetic value, this building has a deep ideological meaning. She continues to function. There are meetings of the two main branches of the US government - the Senate and the House of Representatives. The fact that government officials have gathered under the dome of the Congress can be recognized by the flags around the building. If all of them are up, then the session is in progress. Only two American banners in front of the entrance since the First World War are constantly flying on flagpoles. And so it will be as long as there is a great democratic country - the United States of America.
