Landmarks Series - Name that Landmark

This article is one of an ongoing series that focuses on historical and/or significant landmarks. Information gleaned from www.nps.gov, www.wikipedia.com, www.aoc.gov, and other sources.

Geographically this landmark is not in the center of the District of Columbia, but is the focus by which the quadrants of the district are divided.  Name this landmark.

If you said the United States Capitol, you are correct.  

Located on Capitol Hill at the east end of the National Mall, the United States Capitol serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress.  Covering a ground area of 175,170 square feet and a floor area of about 16.5 acres, the Capitol has two wings that stretch north and south.  The north wing is the Senate chamber and the south wing is the House of Representatives chamber.  Galleries are situated above the chambers so visitors may view the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Up to four U.S. flags can be seen flying over the Capitol.  Since World War I, two flagpoles at the base of the dome on the East and West front have flown day and night continuously.  The other two flagpoles are above the North and South wings and fly when the chamber below is in session.

Similar to many landmarks, the Capitol was originally designed by one person, in this case William Thornton, and subsequently modified, added to, or changed by several other architects over the years.

The Construction of the U.S. Capitol:

September 18, 1793 the cornerstone of the Capitol was laid by George Washington.

In 1800 the Senate wing was completed.

In 1811 the House wing was completed.

On August 24, 1814 during the war of 1812 the Capitol was partially burned by the British.  A rainstorm prevented its complete destruction.  Reconstruction began in 1815 and was completed in 1819.

The addition of the Rotunda area and the first dome of the Capitol continued through 1826.

During the 1850’s the building was expanded dramatically.  The wings were extended and the “wedding cake” cast-iron dome became three times the height of the original dome and extended 100 feet in diameter.

In 1863 the Statue of Freedom was added to the top of the dome.  The bronze Statue of Freedom by Thomas Crawford is the feature of the dome of the United States Capitol. The statue is a classical female figure of Freedom wearing flowing draperies. Her right hand sits upon the hilt of a sheathed sword; her left holds a laurel wreath of victory and the shield of the United States with thirteen stripes. The helmet is encircled by stars and features a crest composed of an eagle's head, feathers, and talons, a reference to the costume of Native Americans. A brooch inscribed "U.S." secures her fringed robes. She stands on a cast-iron globe encircled with the national motto, E Pluribus Unum. The lower part of the base is decorated with fasces and wreaths. Ten bronze points tipped with platinum are attached to her headdress, shoulders, and shield for protection from lightning. The bronze statue stands 19 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 15,000 pounds. Her crest rises 288 feet above the east front plaza.  On May 9, 1993, after almost 130 years in place, the bronze statue was removed from its pedestal by helicopter for restoration.

The East Front of the building was rebuilt in 1904, and then from 1958 – 1962 a marble duplicate of the sandstone East Front was built 33.5 feet from the old front and a connecting extension incorporated what formerly was an outside wall as an inside wall.

June 20, 2000 ground was broken for the Capitol Visitor Center which is due to open in the summer of 2008.

For more information on the United States Capitol, visit www.nps.gov