United States Capitol

Washington, D.C., United States

The United States Capitol is the seat of the United States Congress. It sits atop Capitol Hill, at the eastern end of the National Mall. Though not at the geographic center of the Federal District, the Capitol forms the origin point for the District's street-numbering system and the District's four quadrants.

The original building was completed in 1800 and was subsequently expanded, particularly with the addition of the massive dome. Like the principal buildings of the executive and judicial branches, the Capitol is built in a distinctive neoclassical style and has a white exterior. Both its east and west elevations are formally referred to as fronts, though only the east front was intended for the reception of visitors and dignitaries.

In 2014, scaffolding was erected around the dome for a restoration project scheduled to be completed by early 2017.

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Address

National Mall, Washington, D.C., United States
See all sites in Washington, D.C.

Details

Founded: 1793-1800
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in United States

More Information

www.visitthecapitol.gov
en.wikipedia.org
www.aoc.gov

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


National World War II Memorial (2,7 km)
White House (2,5 km)
Lincoln Memorial (3,5 km)
Washington Monument (2,3 km)
Smithsonian Institution Building (1,5 km)
Smithsonian American Art Museum (1,5 km)
National Gallery of Art (1 km)
National Theatre (2 km)
The National Museum of American History (1,8 km)


Mount Vernon (21,3 km)

User Reviews

S G (15 months ago)
5 mins walking from Union Station. Easily accessible. Free of cost to see and visit it. It also serves as a starting point and if you walk straight from it, you'll encounter The Monument, Lincoln Memorial Park, along with many Museums in between.
Ganindu Madhawa (15 months ago)
A place where one can probe into the political history of USA. It is an iconic place and you need to reserve tickets beforehand visiting the place. You will be provided with a guide who give descriptive analysis of the architecture of the place and historical events. ?
Dr.Debasree Biswas (2 years ago)
Well there was no tour. It was closed. But the giant christmas tree in the Capitol grounds was splendid. Especially when the lights came on in the evening. We hung around on the ground to check the lights out.
Sambit Supriya Dash (2 years ago)
Good place to roam around, the architecture is so beautiful. The colour which strikes our eyes, blue, white and green wherever we see! (October, 2019) I love this place and the weather was so goooood too.
Lilo Moon (2 years ago)
Amazing building wonderful views nice place for my photos ??
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Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

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