United States Capitol

One of the icons of world architecture, the U.S. Capitol has been the meeting place of Congress since 1800. President George Washington laid the cornerstone on September 18, 1793. While under construction, the building was damaged by British troops during the War of 1812 and subsequently restored. The Capitol was enlarged and the present cast-iron dome built in the 1850s and 1860s. Further additions included the Olmstead terraces on the west front in the 1880s and the east front extension in the 1950s. The most recent addition is the underground Capitol Visitor Center. The Statue of Freedom, a 19½-foot-tall bronze statue sculpted by Thomas Crawford in Rome and cast by Clark Foundry in the District of Columbia, was placed on its cast-iron pedestal in 1863 and restored in 1993; the classical figure wears a helmet with an eagle head and feathers and holds a sheathed sword, shield and victory wreath. The House Pediment, The Apotheosis of Democracy by Paul Weyland Bartlett, was installed in 1916, with Peace Protecting Genius at the center, The Power of Labor: Agriculture on the left, and The Power of Labor: Industry on the right. The Center Pediment, Genius of America, was originally carved in sandstone by Luigi Persico in 1828; when the East Front was expanded in 1958-1962, the badly deteriorated figures were replaced by replicas carved in marble, with America at the center holding a shield and pointing to Justice, who holds scales and a scroll marked "Constitution, 17 September 1787," while Hope stands to the right with an anchor. The Senate Pediment, The Progress of Civilization by Thomas Crawford, was installed in 1863, with America in the center beside an eagle, figures of a hunter and American Indians to her left representing America's early days, and a soldier, merchant, teacher, and student to her right representing the march of civilization.

Washington, District of Columbia · United States