United States Capitol
- Acapitalis a city that is home to a government. Acapitolis a building where thelegislaturemeets. For the capital of the United States, seeWashington, D.C.
| United States Capitol | |
|---|---|
 The west face of the United States Capitol | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | AmericanNeoclassicism |
| Town or city | Capitol Hill,Washington, D.C. |
| Country | United States of America |
| Construction started | September 18, 1793 |
| Cost | (to build)$2 million |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 274acres(1.11 km²) |
TheUnited States Capitolis thebuildingwhere theUnited States Congressmeets. It is the center of thelegislative branchof the U.S. federal government. It is inWashington, D.C.,on top ofCapitol Hillat the east end of theNational Mall.
The capitol has a largedomein the center, above arotunda—a large space that is shaped like a circle. There are twowingsthat are connected to the rotunda on opposite sides. The north wing is where theSenatemeets and the south wing is where theHouse of Representativesmeets. These wings are also calledchambers.On the top floors of the chambers aregalleries,or balconies where people can watch the Senate and House of Representatives from above.
TheStatue of Freedomis on top of the capitol.
History
[change|change source]The Continental Congress first met in Philadelphia at Carpenter's Hall in 1774 and then at Independence Hall in 1776.[1]Congress convened in various cities during the Revolutionary War, and the Treaty of Paris was ratified in Annapolis, Maryland, in early 1784. Congress later moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and afterward toNew York City.[1]There, Congress met in City Hall (Federal Hall) from 1785 to 1790.[2]When the capital was moved back toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania,from 1790 to 1800, the Philadelphia County Building (Congress Hall) became the capitol.[3]In 1800, the capital moved again to Washington, D.C., and a new capitol building was constructed.
The capitol was designed by William Thornton.[4]Construction started in 1793, but it was not completely finished until almost twenty years later. The Senate started to meet in the capitol in 1800, when the Senate wing was finished. The House started to meet in the capitol in 1807, even though the House wing was not finished until 1811.[5]
At that time, it was not as big as it is now. The dome in the center of the building was smaller and made of wood. In 1814, the capitol was set on fire by theBritish Armyduring theWar of 1812.[6]In the 1850s and 1860s, the capitol was fully repaired, and the wooden dome was replaced with a largerirondome.[7]The walls of the Senate wing were painted with manymuralsabout events inAmerican History.Inside the rotunda, a largefrescowas also painted on the ceiling during the repair.
TheSupreme Courtalso met in the Capitol until its own building was completed in 1935.[8]
The Capitol Dome is 8,909,200 pounds (4,009tonnes) of cast-iron with 108 windows, and was constructed between 1855 and 1866.[9]
On January 6, 2021, supporters of US PresidentDonald Trumpstormedinto the capitol. This caused a lockdown in the building.[10]
References
[change|change source]Citations
[change|change source]- ↑1.01.1"8 Forgotten Early Capitals of the United States".HISTORY.October 4, 2023.RetrievedApril 23,2024.
- ↑"History & Culture - Federal Hall National Memorial".NPS.gov.National Park Service. May 30, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
- ↑"Congress Hall - Independence National Historical Park".NPS.gov.National Park Service. August 25, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; July 3, 2019 suggested (help) - ↑The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (July 20, 1998)."William Thornton - American Architect, Inventor, and Public Official".Britannica.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; April 17, 2019 suggested (help) - ↑"Capitol cornerstone is laid".History.A&E Television Networks. November 24, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
- ↑AOC Curator Office (August 22, 2012)."A Most Magnificent Ruin: The Burning of the Capitol during the War of 1812".AOC.gov.Architect of the Capitol.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2019 suggested (help) - ↑Glass, Andrew (May 1, 2017)."President Fillmore rules on Capitol expansion, May 1, 1851".Politico.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
- ↑"Homes of the Court".Supreme Court History.org.Supreme Court Historical Society.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; March 27, 2019 suggested (help) - ↑"US Capitol Fast Facts".CNN.September 30, 2013.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 1,2017.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; May 18, 2019 suggested (help) - ↑Amanda Macias (January 6, 2021)."Rioters storm Capitol after Trump urges action, halting declaration of Biden victory".cnbc.CNBC.RetrievedJanuary 6,2021.
Books
[change|change source]- Reed, Henry Hope (2005).The United States Capitol: Its Architecture and Decoration(illustrated ed.). Norton.ISBN0393038319.
- Allen, William Charles (2001).History of the United States Capitol: A Chronicle of Design, Construction, and Politics.Vol. 106 (illustrated ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office.ISBN0160508304.OCLC46420177.
- Maroon, Fred J.; Maroon, Suzy; Boorstin, Daniel Joseph (1993).The United States Capitol(illustrated ed.). Stewart, Tabori & Chang.ISBN1556703163.
- Architect of the Capitol (1976).Art in the United States Capitol.U.S. Government Printing Office.OCLC2181271.
- Aikman, Lonnelle; United States Capitol Historical Society; National Geographic Society (U.S.) (1963).We, the People: The Story of the United States Capitol, Its Past and Its Promise, Volume 62, Page 39(2 ed.). United States Capitol Historical Society.ISBN0916200140.
Other websites
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