What is the History of the USA capitol in WAshington DC

The building of the US Capitol, located in Washington DC, is the meeting place for the US Congress Its construction began in 1793, with many renovations done over two centuries. Several architects helped design the Capitol, who survived a British attack in 1812. The National Park Service declared the Capitol a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960.

Design

The US Capitol originally it is going to be designed by Pierre Charles L'Enfant, but was withdrawn from the project in 1792. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington launched a competition, offering US $ 500 and an area in the city, who proposed a design after the dismissal of L'Enfant. A Scottish doctor named William Thornton presented his design plan after the competition had ended. Its design was accepted by George Washington and members of the Commission of the Federal Building.

Home Construction

Capitol building construction began on September 18, 1793, when George Washington laid the cornerstone in the southeast corner of the building. Stephen H. Hallet architects and George Hadfield were initially in charge of the supervision of construction, but were eventually dismissed for creative disagreements. James Hoban took over the work in the north wing, where the first session of the Congress was held in 1800. Benjamin Henry Latrobe took over the building in 1803, ending the north and south wing, which were connected by a wooden walkway .

War of 1812

British troops burned the Capitol on August 24, 1812, during the War of 1812. In 1815, Benjamin Latrobe returned to Washington to make repairs and renovations. Before resigning in 1817, Latrobe made changes inside the building, including the addition of marble. In 1818, the architect Charles Bulfinch took charge of the reconstruction project and in 1819 the Supreme Court and the halls of the House and Senate were ready for use.

Actually

Many renovations have been made to the Capitol since construction began in 1793, including a global expansion in the mid-nineteenth century due to the increasing size of Congress. More rooms were added between 1958 and 1962, and other restorations were completed in 1993. The Capitol Visitor Center was completed in 2008 to give tourists a glimpse of the inner workings of the Capitol itself. Since 2010, the Capitol has a length of over 751 feet (228.9 m) and a width of 350 feet (106.68 m). The dome on top of the Capitol is built with 8.9 million pounds (3.8 million kg) of cast iron.

Tribute to African Americans

In June 16, 2010, the House paid tribute to the many African slaves who helped build the Capitol. Commemorative plaques were placed inside the Capitol in honor of his work. The Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate leader Harry Reid and Republican leader John Boehner and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell unveiled today the plates are in the Visitor Center of Congress.