Capitol, seat of the U.S. Congress

Capitol, seat of the U.S. government at Washington, D.C. It is the city's dominating monument, built on an elevated site that was chosen by George Washington in consultation with Major Pierre L'Enfant L'Enfant, Pierre Charles , 1754–1825, American soldier, engineer, and architect. Born in France, he volunteered as a private in the American Revolution. He won Gen. Washington's attention with his design for the insignia of the Society of the Cincinnati.
..... Click the link for more information. . The building as it now stands took many years to build and is the result of the work of several architects. In 1792 a competition was held to select an architect, but William Thornton Thornton, William, 1759–1828, American architect, b. Tortola, British Virgin Islands, He studied (1781–84) medicine at Edinburgh but received his medical degree (1784) at the Univ. of Aberdeen.
..... Click the link for more information. gained the president's approval with a plan separately submitted and was appointed. In 1793 the president set the cornerstone, with Masonic rites, and the building was begun. Later three additional architects were employed—E. S. Hallet Hallet, Étienne Sulpice , 1755–1825, French architect. He emigrated c.1789 to the United States, where he became known as Stephen Hallet. Before the opening of the public competition for the design of the Capitol, at Washington, D.C.
..... Click the link for more information. , George Hadfield (d.1826), and James Hoban Hoban, James , c.1762–1831, American architect, b. Ireland. By 1789, Hoban had immigrated to the United States. He designed the South Carolina statehouse, which was burned in 1865. In 1792 he moved to Washington, D.C.
..... Click the link for more information. . In 1814 the uncompleted building was burned by the British, and B. H. Latrobe Latrobe, Benjamin Henry (Benjamin Henry Boneval Latrobe) , 1764–1820, American architect, b. Yorkshire, England. He is considered the first professional architect in the United States.
..... Click the link for more information. , who had been appointed (1803) surveyor of public buildings, undertook its restoration. He was succeeded in 1818 by Charles Bulfinch Bulfinch, Charles, 1763–1844, American architect, b. Boston. A member of the Boston board of selectmen in 1791, he was chosen chairman in 1799—an office equivalent to mayor and held by Bulfinch for 19 years.
..... Click the link for more information. , who brought the design to completion in 1830.

The building proved inadequate in size and was greatly enlarged (1851–65) by T. U. Walter Walter, Thomas Ustick, 1804–87, American architect, b. Philadelphia. In 1819 he entered the office of William Strickland in Philadelphia as a student. In 1830 he began practice, the county prison (1831) at Moyamensing, Philadelphia co.
..... Click the link for more information. , who added the extensive House and Senate wings at either end and the imposing dome, c.288 ft (90 m) in height, which dominates the composition. Elaborate murals depicting a variety of inspirational American subjects, painted (1854–79) by the Italian-born fresco artist Constantino Brumidi (1805–80), adorn much of the Capitol's interior. The building proper is over 750 ft (229 m) long, including approaches c.350 ft (110 m) wide. In 1960 the east front of the Capitol was extended 32 ft (9.8 m), and the original sandstone facade was replaced by marble. The greater Capitol Complex includes (in addition to the Capitol itself) 274 acres (111 hectares) of grounds with gardens, monuments, memorials, a carillon, and fountains; the United States Botanic Gardens (est. 1820), one of the oldest such gardens in the nation, although the present conservatory dates only to 1933; the several House and Senate office buildings; the buildings of the Library of Congress; and the Supreme Court building.

Bibliography

See I. T. Frary, They Built the Capitol (1940); L. Aikman, We, The People (4th ed. 1966).

Capitol, in Rome

Capitol, in Rome: see Capitoline Hill Capitoline Hill or Capitol, highest of the seven hills of ancient Rome, historic and religious center of the city. The great temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, on its southern summit, was dedicated in 509 B.C.
..... Click the link for more information. .

Capitol

a. another name for the Capitoline

b. the temple on the Capitoline

2. the. the main building of the US Congress

3. (in the US) the building housing any state legislature

capitol

Official meeting place for a legislative body.

Capitol

a building in Washington, D.C., the capital of the USA, where the US Congress meets. It was built in the classical style during the years 1793–1865 (architects W. Thornton, B. Latrobe, and T. Walter). The buildings in the US state capitals where the legislative assemblies meet are also called capitols.

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No references found			A STATE Official carrying off the Dome of the Capitol met the Ghost of his predecessor, who had come out of his political grave to warn him that God saw him. Fables by Aesop View in context This beautiful capitol, like every capitol since the dawn of civilization, is often a place of intrigue and calculation. Bill Clinton's Inaugural Address by Clinton, Bill View in context Having withstood such strong attacks upon my fortitude, it is possible that I may be of a cold and insensible temperament, amounting to iciness, in such matters; and therefore my impressions of the live pillars of the Capitol at Washington must be received with such grains of allowance as this free confession may seem to demand. American Notes for General Circulation by Dickens, Charles View in context			Capital Letter capital levy capital messuage Capital Productivity Capital Punishment Capital Script capital ship Capital Springs Centennial State Recreation Area capital stock Capital, Export of Capital-Labor Ratio Capital-Output Ratio Capitalism Capitalism, Law of the Uneven Economic and Political Development of Capitalist Cycle Capitalist Monopolies Capitalization Capitana Capitano del Popolo capitate capitation capitellate Capitellidae capitellum Capito, Wolfgang Fabricius Capitol Capitol Reef National Park Capitol, United States Capitoline Capitoline geese Capitoline Hill Capitoline Triad Capitonidae Capitularies Capitulation Capitulations Capitulum Caplan, Arthur L. Capnocytophaga capo Capo d'Istria, Giovanni Antonio, Count Capo Distria, John Capodimonte Capodistria capoeira capon Capone Capone, Al Capone, Al "Scarf Caponidae Caponier			Capitation tax Capitation tax Capitation tax Capitation tax Capitation tax capitative capitative capitative capitative capitatum Capitaux empruntes Capitaux etrangers Capitaux febriles Capitaux Recherche Déshérence Capite Capite capitella capitella capitella Capitellate Capitellate Capitellidae capitellum capitellum capitellum Capitibranchiata capitium Capito Aelianus Capito, Wolfgang Fabricius capito- Capitol Capitol (disambiguation) Capitol (disambiguation) Capitol (Rome) Capitol (Rome) Capitol Area Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board Capitol Area Beekeepers Association Capitol Area Development Authority Capitol Area East End Complex Capitol Area Homeless Alliance Capitol Area Library Consortium Capitol Area Science Education Leaders Capitol Area Training Foundation Capitol Area Youth Soccer Association Capitol Beltway Hockey League Capitol Broadcasting Corporation Capitol Building Capitol Building Capitol Cabo Verde Association Capitol Cement Corporation Capitol City Bird Society Capitol City Quilt Guild Capitol Commitment Requisition Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board Capitol District Energy Center Cogeneration Associates Capitol Employee Benefit Advisors, Inc.

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Capitol, seat of the U.S. Congress

Bibliography

Capitol, in Rome

Capitol