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Capitol Rotunda

Capitol Rotunda

The Capitol Rotunda is a large, domed, circular room located 96 feet in diameter and 180 feet in height located in the center of the U.S. Capitol on the second floor. The Rotunda is used for important ceremonial events as authorized by concurrent resolution, such as the lying in state of eminent citizens and the dedication of works of art.

House Chamber

House Chamber

The House Chamber, also known as the "Hall of the House of Representatives," is a large assembly room located in the center of the Capitol's south wing. Members of the House of Representatives sit in unassigned armchairs arranged in a semicircle on tiered platforms that face the Speaker's rostrum. Behind the rostrum is a frontispiece with Ionic columns made of black Italian marble with white Alabama marble capitals. An American flag occupies the center and is flanked by two bronze faces.

Flags Over The East And West Central Fronts Of The Capitol

Flags Over The East And West Central Fronts Of The Capitol

No record has been found for the earliest date the flag was flown over the east and west central fronts of the Capitol. Early engravings and lithographs in the office of the Architect of the Capitol show flags flying on either side of the original low dome above the corridors connecting the areas now known as National Statuary Hall and the Old Senate Chamber.

Construction of the Capitol Visitor Center

Construction of the Capitol Visitor Center

The proposal for a Capitol Visitor Center began to crystallize in the mid-1970s with the issuance of the Architect of the Capitol's report "Toward a Master Plan for the United States Capitol." In 1991, Congress authorized funding for conceptual planning and design of a visitor center. In 1995, the design report was issued.

Capitol Visitor Center

Capitol Visitor Center

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center provides a welcoming and educational environment for visitors to learn about the unique characteristics of the House and the Senate and the legislative process as well as the history and development of the architecture and art of the U.S. Capitol. The visitor experience is an intellectual and emotional encounter comprised of highly personal moments that inform, involve and inspire those who come to see the U.S. Capitol.

Capitol Dome

Capitol Dome

The U.S. Capitol’s dome made of cast iron was designed by Thomas U. Walter and constructed from 1855-1866. Finished at the total cost of $1,047,291, the dome was constructed with 8,909,200 pounds of ironwork bolted together in a masterpiece of American will and ingenuity.

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