The Capitol Building, with its distinctive dome, is one of the most iconic structures in the USA Capitol. It serves as the meeting place for the United States Legislature, which includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Capitol is open for visitors, allowing you to explore it in person.
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History of the United States Capitol
The decision to construct the Capitol was made in 1790, simultaneously with the plan to establish a new capital. The intention was for it to start functioning from 1800, but because it was being constructed from scratch on undeveloped land, Philadelphia temporarily took on the role of capital between 1790 and 1800.
The Capitol’s cornerstone was placed on September 18, 1793, by George Washington himself. This American Neoclassical style building houses several significant features. The most renowned is perhaps the House of Representatives, which contains portraits of Hammurabi, Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Jefferson, Sir William Blackstone, and other eminent legislators.
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Interesting Facts About the USA Capitol Building
There are several subway lines beneath the Capitol. These small trains connect the various buildings of the complex and are intended solely for staff or Senators. If you wish to take a ride, you’ll first need to have a friend or acquaintance working there. The decorations along the line are also fascinating; during the journey, passengers pass the flag of each American state.
The USA Capitol is rife with chilling tales. In 1887, journalist Charles Kincaid shot Congressman Preston Taulbee on one of the marble steps after he published reports about his wrongdoing, and the politician retaliated. Mysterious dark stains are still visible on the steps at the exact location where Preston was shot. Building security also reports having witnessed the apparition of Preston Taulbee ascending the stairs on several occasions during the night.
The Capitol building consists of over 540 rooms and 658 windows. The Capitol dome has 108 windows and required 4,041 tons of cast iron to construct between 1855 and 1866.
While it is often said that all roads lead to Rome, in this case, all roads lead to the Capitol, which is the center of the city. Ten roads extend directly from there.
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Guidelines for Visitors to the USA Capitol
🗺️ Location of the United States Capitol
The address of the Capitol is 100 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, but you don’t need to search for it on a map. It’s quite visible even from a distance. The building sits atop Capitol Hill, the highest point at the end of the National Mall. At the time of the Capitol’s construction, the hill was known as Jenkins’ Hill.
📷 How to Visit the USA Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Entry to the Capitol’s visitor center is free of charge, you can simply walk in. However, you must obtain a ticket to tour the historic USA Capitol building.
A guided tour of the Capitol should be booked online in advance. The tour typically lasts about 45 minutes, and usually includes around 50 people in a group.
🕒 Visiting Hours
The USA Capitol and its visitor center are open from Monday to Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Capitol remains closed on Christmas, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and on the day the new USA president is inaugurated.
💡 Good to Know
If you wish to have the Capitol all to yourself, I recommend arriving very early in the morning. You can get great photos with the Capitol from the bottom of the staircase right outside the building. Please note that carrying large backpacks or other oversized baggage is not permitted during the tour of the building.
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Photos of the United States Capitol
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