THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL

Washington, D.C.

The United States Capitol is the home of the United States Congress and the seat of the legislative branch of the federal government. The original building was completed in 1800, but was put out of service by the fire of 1814. The building was later enlarged, with the addition of a massive dome, and extended wings with expanded chambers for the bicameral legislature. The Capitol is built in a distinctive neoclassical style.

The decision on where to locate the capital was contentious, but Alexander Hamilton helped broker a compromise for locating the capital along the Potomac River. In the spring of 1792, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson held a competition for the design of the Capitol and the “President’s House.” The winning design for the Capitol was by William Thornton, who was inspired by the east front of the Louvre, as well as the Paris Pantheon. Many other architects had a hand in the final building design - not an unexpected situation for the ultimate monument to politics. Today, the Capitol has over 600 rooms in 1.5 million square feet. It is 751 long and 388 feet high, and has miles of corridors, some of which are dark.

Charles L'Enfant created the city’s master plan for the new capital and the site for the "Congress House,” connecting it with the President's House, and a public space (The National Mall). L'Enfant had been tasked with designing the Capitol and President's House, but President George Washington fired him over a disagreement.