U.S. Capitol Welcomes Uscie.chron.com/minipage/mini_page_pdf_archive/mp24... · “Wizards of Waverly Place.” She has also sung in the Disney series “Jonas.” She has appeared

© 2010 Universal Uclick

release dates: June 12-18 24-1 (10)

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal UclickVisitor Center Inspires Public

U.S. Capitol Welcomes Us

Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.

Have you ever visited the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.? If you haven’t seen it in person, you have probably seen it in newspapers or on TV.

The U.S. Capitol is where the two legislative (LEH-jus-LAY-tiv), or law-making, bodies of the U.S. government meet.

Now, the millions of people who come to Washington, D.C., to see the Capitol have a new visitor center to make their tour more pleasant. The Visitor Center, which opened in 2008, is the latest addition to the U.S. Capitol.

The need In the last 30 years, there has been a big increase in the number of visitors wanting to tour the Capitol. The first jump was in 1976, during the country’s bicentennial, or 200th birthday celebration. In 1976, there were about 1 million visitors to the Capitol each year. By 2000, that number had jumped to 3 million a year. But the Capitol wasn’t meant to handle that number of visitors. It was built to house congressional business. There were only five public restrooms in the whole Capitol. There was no place for the public to get something to eat or drink. During the top tourist season, in the spring and summer, people might have waited up to four hours outside in the heat. People often fainted.

There were no restrooms or drinking fountains for people standing and waiting outside. Each person could get only one ticket apiece. A whole family had to get to the Capitol early in the morning so they could each get their ticket. They might spend several hours in line and then get tickets for 2:30 p.m. So they’d have to wait a few more hours before they could finally get into the Capitol.

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Visitors flow into Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center. The center can hold 5,000 people at a time. Because only 1,500 people an hour can tour the Capitol and still meet fire codes, people wait their turn in the Visitor Center. They no longer have to stand in line for hours.

photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol

The Statue of Freedom stands on top of the Capitol dome. The original 19 1/2-foot plaster model used to make this statue now stands in Emancipation Hall in the Visitor Center.

Visitors line up on one of the walkways to enter the Capitol Visitor Center.

photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol

The “capitol” is the building. The “capital” is the city.

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

24-2 (09); release dates: June 12-18®

Welcoming the People

Words that remind us of the U.S. Capitol are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: ACT, ASPIRATIONS, CAPITOL, CONGRESS, DOCUMENTS, DOME, EAT, EMANCIPATION, GOVERNMENT, HALL, HOUSE, LAW, LEARN, LINE, PUBLIC, SENATE, STATUES, TOUR, VIEW, WAIT, WASHINGTON.

U.S. Capitol try ’nfind

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S D H E S U O H L O T I P A C E W O A E N I L S E U T A T S N V A M L V T A E C I L B U P A I K I E L S T N E M U C O D T E C L T W K S S E R G N O C E W W A S H I N G T O N W A L S N O I T A R I P S A R U O T N R A E L T N E M N R E V O G T C A N O I T A P I C N A M E


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ready resourcesfrom The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

The Mini Page provides ideas for websites, books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics.

On the Web: • www.visitthecapitol.gov • www.aoc.gov • http://kids.clerk.house.gov • www.senate.gov • http://congressforkids.net/index.htm

At the library: • “How a Bill Becomes Law” by John Hamilton


A meeting place for Congress The U.S. Congress is made up of two groups, or bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each of these bodies meets in a separate wing in the Capitol.

The Capitol has gone through many changes since it was begun in 1793. Congress began meeting in the Capitol in 1800, when the government moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. In 1814, British troops burned the Capitol. Much of it had to be rebuilt. Each time more states joined the country, there were more representatives and senators needing space. The Capitol kept growing. The Visitor Center is the latest addition to this building.

More comfort for visitors Before the Visitor Center was built, there was only one line to get tickets. Because everybody had to be screened by metal detectors, the line moved very slowly. Now there are eight lines. People can also reserve a tour time online. The average time spent in line is now about six minutes. About 100 people are screened every few minutes. People can wait for their tour time in the Visitor Center. There are 26 big restrooms and a cafeteria.

Changing times Before 9/11, visitors could walk through the Capitol on their own. After 9/11, this changed. Now the public can see the Capitol only on guided tours.

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People in the Visitor Center can view the dome of the Capitol through the center’s skylights.

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Films in the Visitor Center show how Congress works.

® 24-3 (09); release dates: June 12-18

Rookie Cookie’s RecipeHamburger Soup



Meet Bridgit Mendler Bridgit Mendler stars as Teddy in the Disney Channel series “Good Luck Charlie.” She is best known for her role as Juliet in the Disney series “Wizards of Waverly Place.” She has also sung in the Disney series “Jonas.” She has appeared in shows such as “General Hospital.”

Bridgit played Becca in the movie “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.” She was born in Washington, D.C. After her family moved to the San Francisco area when she was 8 years old, she went to acting camps and decided she wanted to be an actor. She got acting and singing roles in local theater productions. Bridgit, 17, is attending high school online. She enjoys writing songs and dancing.

You’ll need:• 1 pound lean ground beef• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce• 2 cups water• 1 (1.25-ounce) package dry onion

soup mix

What to do:1. Brown ground beef over medium heat; drain off excess fat.2. Put beef in large soup pot with all other ingredients.3. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat.4. Simmer for one hour. Makes 6 to 8 servings. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.


Alan: What do you call a plumber’s new assistant? Anna: A drainee!

Aletha: What did the plumber say to his noisy helper?

Addison: “Pipe down!”

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All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category?

Aaron: What is a plumber’s favorite kind of shoes?

Alicia: Clogs!Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.

Mini Spy . . .Mini Spy and her friends are visiting the Capitol Visitor Center. See if you can find: • kite • ring • bird • bell • horse head • heart • sword • lion face• ladder • pencil • word MINI • sailboat• letter H • muffin • letter A • letter M• ruler • teapot • mouse • envelope


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• 1 teaspoon sugar• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce• 1 teaspoon soy sauce• 3 carrots, chopped (1 cup)• 2 celery stalks, chopped• 1 (15.25-ounce) can yellow corn,

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The Mini Page’s popular series of issues about each state is collected here in a 156-page softcover book. Conveniently spiral-bound for ease of use, this invaluable resource contains A-to-Z facts about each state, along with the District of Columbia. Illustrated with colorful photographs and art, and complete with updated information, The Mini Page Book of States will be a favorite in classrooms and homes for years to come.

NEW!

To order, send $15.99 ($19.99 Canada) plus $5 postage and handling for each copy. Make check or money order (U.S. funds only) payable to Universal Uclick. Send to The Mini Page Book of States, Universal Uclick, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206. Or call toll-free 800-591-2097 or go to www.smartwarehousing.com. Please send ______ copies of The Mini Page Book of States (Item #0-7407-8549-4) at $20.99 each, total cost. (Bulk discount information available upon request.)Name: _____________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________City: ______________________________________________State: __________________________ Zip: ________________

The Mini Page® Book of States


24-4 (09); release dates: June 12-18®

A Place to Learn


The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist

Buried treasure The Capitol Visitor Center is about three stories high, but it doesn’t rise next to the Capitol. Most of it is underneath the Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol designed it this way so people can still see the Capitol dome. The center takes up about three-fourths as much space as the Capitol itself. It displays historic documents and objects concerning Congress, the Capitol and our country. These include the inkstand that Speaker of the House Henry Clay used; the platform where Abraham Lincoln’s coffin rested while he lay in state; and the gavel, or hammer-like tool, that George Washington used to set the cornerstone of the Capitol.Emancipation Hall The biggest area in the center is called Emancipation Hall. It was named in honor of the slaves who were forced to help build the Capitol. A slave also helped make the Statue of Freedom that stands on top of the Capitol dome. Can you imagine what a slave must have thought as he was forced to make a statue honoring freedom?

Statues The Capitol exhibits two statues donated by each state. These honor famous people from the states. The Visitor Center now displays 24 of these statues.

A more perfect union A marble wall in the Exhibition Hall displays documents from the Library of Congress and the National Archives. The wall is called “A More Perfect Union.” It highlights documents and themes showing how Congress has tried to move our country forward. These themes, or ideas, are: Freedom, Unity, Knowledge, Common Defense, Exploration and General Welfare. For example, documents about Exploration have included the map used by Lewis and Clark. Common Defense might include a letter from George Washington about fighting pirates. Knowledge might include the drawing the Wright brothers submitted to the U.S. Patent Office for their airplane. General Welfare documents include the Social Security Act. Documents are changed twice a year.

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Students examine the touchable model of the Capitol dome in the Visitor Center. This scale model is about 1/20th the size of the actual dome. School classes often watch live videos of the House and Senate. They can discuss Congress’ acts right under the live action. When visiting the House or Senate galleries in person, people must be quiet.

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Chained slaves walk away from the Capitol, which is behind them. The dome wasn’t built yet.

The Mini Page thanks Tom Fontana, Capitol Visitor Center, for help with this issue.

Look through your newspaper for stories about Congress.

Next week, The Mini Page is all about sand castles.

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This statue honors King Kamehameha I, from Hawaii.

This honors Helen Keller, from Alabama.