Capitol

// ﻿ URSULA GROSSMANN//

= CAPITOL BUILDING =

** Function and Purpose **


The Capitol Building in Washington D.C. is the meeting place of the nation’s Congress. Congress is the Legislative Branch of the U.S. government that consists on the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives consists on 435 representatives while the Senate consists on 100 senators. Congress meets in the Capitol building everyday to make laws that affe ct the daily lives of all americans. They also say that congress serves as the voice of the people and the states in the federal government

Architecture, Construction, and Location
The construction of the Capitol Building started in 1793 and the first portion of the Capitol was finished on 1800. Major extensions tothe sides of thebuilding, mostly the North and South sides were approved because of the Nation’s growth to the west. This mayor expansion of the nation caused a huge growth on the nation’s congress. The newest addition to the Capitol is the underground Capitol Visitors Center. It is three fourth’sthe size of the original building. It was built underground so the original structure of the Capitol wouldn’t be affected. The architect and artist that designed this architectural achievement is Architect Thornton. The Capitol has a rotunda that forms the center of the building. The rotunda is 95 ft in diameter and 183 ft high. It also has a statue at the very top that’s called the “Statue of Freedom.” What’s incredible of this building is that it counts with 540 rooms.

Historical Significance
Since the huge expansion of the Capitol Building in 1850, it has become alongside with the big dome at it’s top, an international symbol of the nation’s democracy. Congress met for the first time in the Capitol building the same year that the first portion was finished, in 1800. The Capitol was set in fire once by the British troops in 1814 in the War of 1812, as well as the White House.

Personal Experience and Reflection
When I visited this structure I though that it was huge and very beautiful. The fact that it was huge really impressed me. What called my attention the most was the statue at the very top of the dome of the building. I thought it looked funny, but what I found particularly interesting was that it was a “Statue of Freedom.” I learned that the building is an international symbol of democracy. What I already knew was that Congress met in the Capitol to make laws. What I was surprised to find out was that it took very little time to build it. I’ve seen many structures that it took a century or more to finish and when I saw the Capitol I thought it was one of those structures. When I visited the Capitol, the idea that came directly to my mind was “of course it has to be huge, 435 representatives and 100 senators work here everyday.” My personal opinion about the building is that it is beautiful. Its design is a masterpiece. Besides it is the perfect place for the Legislative Branch to be: Next to the Executive Branch’s working place.