The United States Capitol, on Capitol Hill at the east end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., serves as the meeting place of Congress and the point from which the city’s street numbering and four quadrants are organized. Planned in the 1790s for the new national capital, it was begun after George Washington laid its cornerstone in 1793 on a site chosen by Pierre L’Enfant. Designed first by William Thornton and later altered by other architects, it was built in part by enslaved laborers. Damaged by British forces in 1814, it was restored and expanded through the 19th century, becoming a lasting symbol of federal government and continuity.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Washington, District of Columbia · USA