The Capitol (2036)

Charles Bulfinch [t∫a:lz 'b lfint∫] – Чарльз Балфинч

Benjamin Latrobe ['bend əmin lə'troub] – Бенджамин Латроуб

Rotunda [rou't ndə] – ротонда

The Capitol in Washington, D. C., built on the hill, called the Capitol Hill, houses the two chambers of the legislature: the Senate and the House of Representatives. An architectural competition was held to determine the design of the first monument in the country. William Thornton, who designed the Capitol as a simple sandstone building topped with a low, wide dome, won the competition and the building was begun according to his plans. George Washington liked his design for its grandeur, simplicity and comfort and laid the cornerstone of the Capitol on September 18, 1793.

On November 22, 1800, the first session of Congress in the new Capitol was called to order. Construction was still underway but John Adams insisted that Congress make the move to Washington. In 1803, Benjamin Latrobe erected a second wing to the Capitol, which provided the House with its own building, and altered Thornton's original low dome by raising it up to a more commanding position.

The British burned the Capitol in 1814, using the books of the Library of Congress as kindling. Charles Bulfinch and Thomas Walter were commissioned to rebuilt and improve the building. They installed a new; statelier dome surfaced with copper, added a number of ornamental touches to the Capitol grounds, and enlarged the building through the extension of new wings for the House of Representatives. Once completed, the building took on the appearance of the modern Capitol.

Today the structure is 751 ft long, 350 feet wide, with its dome rising to 285 ft, and contains some 430 rooms. Topping the dome is the 19-foot bronze statue of Freedom. The 36 columns which surround the lower part of the dome represent the states in the Union at the time this impressive structure was designed. Statues of distinguished citizens from nearly all the states are in Statuary Hall. The Rotunda directly beneath the dome of the Capitol is decorated by the mural frescoes of Constantino Brumidi and the historical paintings of the Revolutionary period by John Trumbull.

The Capitol has been the sight of many celebrations. It's East Terrace has been the traditional site for inaugural events. The Capitol has also been the site of many great debates as well as many scandals. But despite different incidents, the Capitol remains highly respected as the home of the American system of government. It is one of the most remarkable and most memorable sites in the nation's capital.

Check your comprehension.

1. Where is the Capitol built? 2. What is the Capitol? 3. Who was the designer of the Capitol? 4. What did George Washington like the design for? 5. What architects took part in rebuilding the Capitol? 6. What did they improve in the construction of the Capitol? 7. What is at the top of the Capitol's dome? 8. What is the number of the columns surrounding the lower part of the dome and why? 9. How is the Rotunda decorated? 10. What did East Terrace serve for?

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Washington (2293)	\|	The White House (1866)

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