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Capitol Building
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Originally begun in 1793, the project to complete the construction of the U.S. Capitol spanned almost 43 years and one war. The building houses the chambers of the House of Representatives (second floor, south wing) and the Senate (second floor, north wing). Some Congressional offices (such as those for the majority and minority leaders) are housed in the Capitol; other Congressional offices are spread out among the other buildings situated near the Capitol (such as the Dirksen and Hart Senate Office Buildings). The final design selected for the Capitol was submitted (late) by William Thornton, a physician living in the British West Indies. Three different architects worked on the building since the cornerstone was laid by President George Washington on September 18, 1793. The third architect, James Hoban, worked on the project from the dismissal of his predecessors (Stephen Hallet and George Hadfield) until 1800. In 1803, Benjamin Henry Latrobe picked up where Hoban left off; he left the construction project in 1813 when funding became erratic. British troops fighting the War of 1812 set fire to the Capitol on August 24, 1814. Had it not begun to rain torrentially, the Capitol would have been reduced to rubble. Latrobe returned to the job in 1815 for the restoration and repair (and left yet again in 1817), then Charles Bulfinch took over the position. Bulfinch worked on building, restoring, and redesigning the Capitol from 1818 until his position was eliminated in 1829. The Capitol underwent more design revisions and renovations from 1830 up to present day. Upgrades include additions to the building, gas -- then electric -- lighting, fireproofing, the addition of a new dome, and the introduction of the Statue of Freedom. |
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