U.S. Capitol
By: Nikki Johnston and Hana Furuichi
HistoryImportant People
• Benjamin Henry Latrobe did the south wing and the north wing's interior
• Charles Bulfinch did the rotunda, dome, and part of the west wing
• Thomas U. Walter was the Capitol Extension winner and supervised until both wings and the dome was done
• Montgomery C. Meigs supervised the capitol extension
HistoryPrevious Capitols
• The Capitol has housed the House of Representatives and the Senate for around 200 years starting in 1793
• Starting at 1775, the Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House
• In 1783, the Congress met in Nassau Hall in New Jersey
• After that, they met in the Maryland State House in Annapolis
• They met at the Federal Hall in New York
The Previous Capitols
AnnapolisPhiladelphia
Princeton New York
Purpose / Function
• Representatives are elected for two years• The Speaker of the House rules the sessions• They elect the President when the Electoral College cannot• They can impeach government officials• "Here, sir, the people govern."
~Alexander Hamilton
The House of Representatives
Purpose / FunctionThe Senate• Senators are elected for 6 years• They approve treaties• They judge impeachments• They confirm presidential appointments• The second floor houses the Senate• Second floor has Supreme Court Room• "A necessary fence."
~James Madison
Physical Aspects• The U.S. Capitol Visitor
Center is the newest addition.
• The Visitor Center is almost 580,000
• The Statue of Freedom on the dome is1 9 1/2 feet high
• Has about 540 rooms• The Rotunda is over 95
feet in diameter and more than 183 feet high
• It has a Botanic Garden
The US Capitol Botanic Garden
Tour InformationTour Information• Tours from 8:50 a.m. -
3:20 p.m.• Monday - Saturday.• Visitors with
appointments can enter the Visitor Center at 7:15
• Tours are free, passes required
Contact Information• Phone number:
(202-)226-8000
Visiting InformationVisiting Information:• Open to the public on
Monday - Saturday• 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.• Not open on:
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day.
Address• East Capitol Street, NE
and 1st Street, NE Washington, DC 20002.