United States Capitol, Washington DC – Sits atop Capitol Hill, at the eastern end of the National Mall. The United States Capitol is among the most symbolically important and architecturally impressive buildings in the nation. It has housed the meeting chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate for two centuries. The dome of the Capitol building was not added until the 1850’s. It took a total of 11 years to put the dome on top of the building.

Since 1800, this is where the legislative branch of American government – ie Congress – has met to write the country's laws. The lower House of Representatives and upper Senate meet respectively in the south and north wings of the building. Enter via the underground visitor center below the East Plaza. Guided tours of the building are free, but tickets are limited and there's often a long wait. It's best to reserve online in advance. The hour-long jaunt showcases the exhaustive background of a building that fairly sweats history. You'll watch a cheesy film first, then staff members lead you into the ornate halls and whispery chambers cluttered with the busts, statues and personal mementos of generations of Congress members. To watch Congress in session, you need a separate pass. US citizens must get one from their representative or senator; foreign visitors should take their passports to the House and Senate Appointment Desks on the upper level. Congressional committee hearings are actually more interesting if you care about what's being debated; check for a schedule, locations and to see if they're open to the public at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. Security measures here are strict; no food, liquid or bags larger than 18 inches.

French architect Major Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, hired by President Washington to plan the federal city, selected Capitol Hill—a plateau, actually—as "a pedestal waiting for a monument". Indeed it was. In 1793, George Washington and an entourage of local masons laid the building’s long-lost cornerstone, then celebrated by barbecuing a 500-pound ox. Thirty-one years later, despite a fire, a shortage of funds and the War of 1812, the structure was complete. But as the Union grew, so did the number of legislators. By 1850, architects projected the Capitol would have to double its size. In 1857, they added wings for the Senate and the House of Representatives. An iron dome replaced the wooden one in 1865. Today, as well as being a landmark of neo-classical architecture, the Capitol—which has 540 rooms, 658 windows and 850 doorways—is something like a small city. As well as the 535 elected lawmakers, an estimated 20,000 workers toil each day among the six buildings—all connected by tunnels—that make up the complex. A US flag flies over the Senate and House wings when either is in session; and at night a lantern glows in the Capitol dome. Tickets for a Capitol tour are free but should be booked online in advance; you’ll be assigned a time. US citizens can also book through their senator or representative. A limited number of same-day passes are also available from the information desk in Emancipation Hall on the lower level of the Capitol Visitor Center. Entrance to the Capitol is also through the Emancipation Hall. Once inside you will also be able to obtain a pass for the House and Senate floors. More information is available at http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/visit/book_a_tour. Visits begin with an orientation film, Out of Many, One. The highlight of the short tour is the Rotunda, its dome containing nine million tons of iron. On its ceiling is a massive fresco by Constantino Brumidi, consisting of a portrait of the nation’s first president rising to the heavens flanked by allegorical figures of Liberty and Authority, Victory and Fame. They are surrounded by maidens representing the original 13 colonies. Around the walls are other paintings, with figures depicting elements in American life such as commerce and agriculture; in these scenes mythological gods and goddesses interact with historical figures. The National Statuary Hall was originally the chamber of the House of Representatives, but it outgrew the room, moving to a new chamber, and the room was devoted to statuary. Each state was invited to contribute two statues to honour individuals significant to their state; these are displayed throughout the Capitol and in the visitors’ center.

Welcome to the U.S. Capitol. The main entrance is located beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at First Street and East Capitol Street. The Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. The Senate and the House of Representatives have met here for more than two centuries. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored; today, it stands as a monument not only to its builders but also to the American people and their government. Whether you are here to get information about an upcoming visit, to involve yourself in the workings of the Senate and House of Representatives, or to be inspired by two centuries of art and architecture, this site will be a gateway to your Capitol experience. The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is the newest addition to this historic complex. At nearly 580,000 square feet, the Visitor Center is the largest project in the Capitol's more than two-century history and is approximately three quarters the size of the Capitol itself. The entire facility is located underground on the east side of the Capitol so as not to detract from the appearance of the Capitol and the grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1874.

The Capital Building is the heart of US government. This building houses the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and The Library of Congress. The guided tours are from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4:30 pm, and they're free. The building was designed by William Thorton and it has a big dome in the middle and two buildings on either side of it. The mural on the roof shows President George Washington and is called the Apotheosis of George Washington. Around the mural on the ceiling you can see a short pictorial chronology of the country. Below the dome there are paintings of the history of the country. One that caught my eye was The Baptism of Pocahontas by John Gadsby Chapman. For those of you who don't know: Pocahontas did exist.

Want to see where bills are endlessly debated and sometimes pass to become laws? Come watch the House and/or Senate in session at the U.S. Capitol and get a tour of the stunning building too. While you may tour parts of the structure during business hours, you need gallery passes to see the floor where elected officials are so be sure to contact your representative's office far in advance. Special tours are offered throughout the week at set times which require passes obtained at the Visitor Center to attend. Check out the detailed art work by Constantino Brumidi on the first floor of the Senate wing or learn about the Capitol and Congress during the Civil War. METRO: Capitol South