Capitol, U.S., District of Columbia (DC), United States

Facts & Statistics
Place Name	Capitol, U.S.
Place Status (Type)	historic site
Location	Washington, D.C., District of Columbia (DC), United States, North America
Latitude	unknown
Longitude	unknown

Capitol, U.S. , building in which the Congress of the U.S. holds session. Located between Constitution and Independence avenues at 1st Street on Capitol Hill in Wash., D.C. The West Front overlooks the city; the impressive Capitol dome is visible from Va. The bldg. stretches from N to S more than 751 ft/229 m, and E to W 350 ft/107 m. There were 9 architects of the Capitol and construction began in 1793, with George Washington laying the cornerstone. The 1st wing was completed in 1800, and the S wing was completed in 1807. The British burned the Capitol in Aug. 1814. The present dome, made of cast iron, was not completed until 1863, during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The most impressive interior of the Capitol is the Rotunda. Beneath the bldg. is a subway linking the Capitol with the Senate and House office bldgs.