The United States Capitol building serves as the
seat of government for the United States Congress, the legislative
branch of the U.S. federal government. It is located in
Washington, D.C., on top of Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the
National Mall. Although not in the geographic center of the
District of Columbia, the Capitol is the focus by which the
quadrants of the district are divided. Officially, the east and
west sides of the Capitol are referred to as "fronts".
Historically, however, the east front was initially the side of
the building intended for the arrival of visitors and dignitaries.
In 2007, it was ranked sixth on the List of America's Favorite
Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.
Design
The building was originally
designed by William Thornton. This plan was subsequently modified
by Stephen Hallet, Benjamin Latrobe and then Charles Bulfinch. The
current dome and the House and Senate wings were designed by
Thomas U. Walter and August Schoenborn, a German immigrant, and
were completed under the supervision of Edward Clark.
The building is marked by its central dome above a rotunda and two
wings, one for each chamber of Congress: the north wing is the
Senate chamber and the south wing is the House of Representatives
chamber. Above these chambers are galleries where visitors can
watch the Senate and House of Representatives. It is an example of
the Neoclassical architecture style. The statue on top of the dome
is the Statue of Freedom.
Underground tunnels (and even a private underground railway)
connect the main Capitol building with each of the Congressional
office buildings in the surrounding complex. All rooms in the
Capitol are designated as either S (for Senate) or H (for House),
depending on whether they are north (Senate) or south (House) of
the Rotunda. Similarly, rooms in the Congressional office
buildings are designated as HOB (for House Office Building, which
are all south of the Capitol) or SOB (for Senate Office Building,
which are all north of the Capitol). Additionally, all addresses
in Washington, D. C. are designated NE, NW, SE, or SW, in
relationship to the Rotunda. (Since the Capitol Rotunda is not
located in the center of the District — it is slightly farther
east and south — the four D.C. quadrants are not the same shape
and size.) |
