Touring The US Capitol: Rotunda

On By nationalparkswithtIn District of Columbia1 Comment
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DC Trip 2024➤

Our congressman came through with tickets to visit the White House in October of 2024. So my husband and I took a long weekend to visit Washington, DC. He hadn’t been to many of the sites, so we spent a few days visiting the various National Park Service units. We toured several memorials, monuments and other sites, including the US Capitol Building.

The Capitol➤

The United States Capitol is one of the most recognizable symbols of democracy in the world. Construction began in 1793, and the design by physician-turned-architect William Thornton reflected the neoclassical style popular in the new republic. President George Washington laid the cornerstone that same year. During the War of 1812, British troops set fire to the building, but heavy rain spared it from total destruction, allowing for restoration soon after.

From 1850 to 1868, the Capitol underwent a major expansion to accommodate the growing number of legislators. A new cast-iron dome replaced the original copper one, dramatically transforming the skyline of Washington, D.C. The structure continued to evolve, with its last expansion completed in 1960—bringing the Capitol to its current size of more than 175,000 square feet. That same year, it was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. From its steps, visitors enjoy one of the most iconic views in the capital, stretching down the National Mall toward the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.

We joined a guided tour that began in the Visitor Center beneath the East Plaza. Our guide shared details about the building’s construction and restoration before leading us through the grand halls. Even after seeing the Capitol’s exterior so many times, walking inside felt entirely different—stepping into living history.

The Rotunda➤

The highlight of the first part of our tour was the Rotunda. Sunlight streamed through the oculus, illuminating the intricate frescoes and statues that line the circular space.

The Apotheosis of Washington painting crowns the dome’s interior, depicting the nation’s first president rising among the heavens. In 1865, artist Constantino Brumidi painted the fresco 180 feet above the rotunda’s floor. Brumidi spent eleven months working on this enormous painting after the Civil War.

Encircling the base of the Capitol Dome, the Frieze of American History shows important moments from the nation’s past. Painted in shades of brownish gray, it appears sculpted from stone but is actually a mural. The scenes begin with Columbus landing in the New World and end with the Wright brothers’ first flight. Brumidi started the project in 1878 and worked on it until his death. Other artists continued the work and finished it in 1953. The frieze stretches 300 feet around the Rotunda, forming a visual timeline of America’s story.

Around the lower walls, John Trumbull’s historic scenes—including the signing of the Declaration of Independence—capture key moments in America’s founding. These were hard to capture because there were so many people standing on the rotunda floor. We used headsets to hear our tour guide.

A relief sculpture hangs above each of the four doors. Each panel features scenes from American colonial history. Over the east door is Landing of the Pilgrims, sculpted by Enrico Causici.

Our guide pointed out where presidents and distinguished citizens have lain in state beneath the dome, and where the artistry of centuries meets the reverence of the present. Standing there, it was easy to feel the weight of history—this is the ceremonial heart of the Capitol, where art, architecture, and democracy meet beneath one magnificent dome.

2024 DC Trip Posts➤

Location: East Capitol St NE & First St SE, Washington, DC
Designation: National Historic Landmark
Date designated/established: December 19, 1960
Date of my visit: October 25, 2024