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.