Occupying the east end of the National Mall, the U.S. Capitol building may not be the geographic center of the District of Columbia, but it is the seat of American government and the heart of D.C.’s network of streets and quadrant-based neighborhoods. The impressive neoclassical structure of white marble and stone rises over the Mall on the beautifully landscaped grounds of Capitol Hill. Its most prominent feature is the central rotunda topped by a massive 100-foot wide dome made of cast iron and weighing in at over 8.9 million pounds. Learn about the library of Congress below:
The Capitol Building
Situated on a north-south axis, the central rotunda divides the US Capitol Building according to the government’s bicameral structure. The North Wing is home to the Senate Chambers, while the House of Representatives occupies the South Wing. The Capitol’s eastern front is the official entrance to the building, designed to receive visiting dignitaries and heads of state. Atop the Capitol are 4 U.S. flags; the two atop the dome have been flying constantly since World War I, while singular flags atop each wing only fly when that chamber is in session.
The Rotunda
The interior halls of the Capitol are a beautiful testament to American history, art, and ingenuity. Adorning the interior of the Capitol dome is the famed painting The Apotheosis of Washington, while the equally famous Frieze of American History, painted by 4 artists over 70 years, chronicles the birth of modern America as it encircles the dome’s interior walls. Below the rotunda is The Crypt, the intended burial site of George Washington that now holds a life-like bust of Abraham Lincoln (Washington wished to be interred at his Mount Vernon estate). Numerous other classic pieces can be found throughout the US Capitol, a must visit for any art or history buff. The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday, 8:30am to 4:30pm, and online tour reservations are highly recommended.
The Library of Congress
As the largest library in the world and the oldest cultural institution in the United States, the scope of the Library of Congress is truly hard to fathom. Located in three buildings on Capitol Hill, its holdings include 38 million books, 3.6 million recordings, 8 million photographs, and 70 million manuscripts among its more than 164 million holdings. The Library is open to the public, but is intended to serve the members of Congress (so don’t plan on checking out any books during your visit).