The History of the United States Capitol

Published 2010-10-27
The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. It has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for almost two centuries.

Since the laying of the cornerstone in 1793, the U.S. 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.

Learn more at www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/buildings-groun….

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ABOUT US
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is rooted in a tradition of unique craftsmanship and ingenuity. Tracing its beginnings to the laying of the #USCapitol cornerstone in 1793, the AOC is responsible for the operations and care of more than 18.4 million square feet of facilities, 570 acres of grounds and thousands of works of art. The Capitol campus is home to 30,000 daily occupants and hosts more than 3 million visitors annually.

Today, there are more than 2,000 AOC employees serving around the clock in diverse roles to maintain and preserve the buildings and grounds. Iconic landmarks under our care include the U.S. Capitol, Capitol Grounds, Capitol Visitor Center (‪@visitthecapitol‬), House office buildings, Library of Congress, Senate office buildings, Supreme Court buildings and ‪@UnitedStatesBotanicGarden‬.
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JOIN OUR TEAM
Architect of the Capitol job opportunities are listed at www.aoc.gov/jobs.

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All Comments (13)
  • @TheLiamster
    The Capitol is my favorite building in DC, I loved being able to visit it in person.
  • Visited it in Sept...it makes you proud to be an American especially after watching the video at the visitors center of how American Government was formed . The rotunda and stone work are beautiful
  • @tracer740
    Never have I been equally impressed by any architectural structure. It is awesome! It's interior is equally impressive regarding all details of design, fit and finish.
  • @TDixontech
    I am going to use this video in my class this year. It's a really good overview.
  • @Kurrupt4Lyfe
    Wow, this was more than I expected and super informative...very awesome video.
  • When I was a young undergraduate working for my college newspaper, I took my first trip to DC. I was crossing a street when my editor said, "Javi, look," and pointed. I turned to see this magnificent building directly ahead as if it were in the middle of the street. I cried!
  • I preferred the original dome the current one looks totally out of proportion with the height of the lower portion of the building a dome like that should be on a much taller structure much like it is on St Pauls Cathedral.