Congressional Staff-Led Capitol Tour
How is it determined how many Representatives a state sends to the House?
the 435 members are apportioned across the states according to population; every 10 years, they get re-apportioned based on the updated census information
What kind of design are the columns in the Crypt?
Doric
What is the architectural structure of the Old Supreme Court Chamber?
Doric colunms supporting a vaulted ceiling
What is depicted in the relief above the fireplace in the Old Supreme Court Chamber?
"Justice," a plaster relief by Carlo Franzoni Placed in the room in 1817
What in the center of the Apotheosis of Washington?
"Washington rising to the heavens flanked by two female figures and encircled by 13 maidens representing the original states. A rainbow arcs beneath his feet."
What is depicted in the Statue of Freedom?
A classical female figure ("Freedom") wearing a helmet and resting her right hand on a sheathed sword and holding a laurel wreath in her left hand
What is above the rear fireplace in the Old Supreme Court Chamber?
A clock designed by Simon Willard that was ordered specifically for the Court and installed in 1837
What is the structure of the current Capitol dome?
A double shell: a taller "outer dome" and a shorter "innter dome"
What is the Magna Carta Display?
A replica of the Magna Carta, an English document containing principles that underlie much of the United States Constitution
What are the 8 Rotunda paintings?
- The Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull - The Surrender of General Burgoyne by John Trumbull - Surrender of General Cornwallis by John Trumbull - General George Washington Resigning his Commission by John Trumbull - The Discovery of Mississippi by DeSoto by William H. Powell - Landing of Columbus by John Vanderlyn - Embarkation of the Pilgrims by Robert Weir - Baptism of Pocahontas by John Gadsby Chapman
How many Senators are there?
100
How long did it take to paint the Apotheosis of Washington?
11 months
How much does the Statue of Freedom weigh?
15,000 pounds
Statues in the Rotunda: Abraham Lincoln
16th President (1861-1865) Commissioned by Congress and unveiled in the Rotunda in 1871 Marble statue was created by 18-year-old female sculpture Vinnie Ream She finished her clay bust the day President Lincoln was assassinated Lincoln is shown wearing the coat he wore to Ford's Theater
Capitol Construction Timeline
1792: Thornton's design finished 1800: Senate Wing 1807: House Wing 1829: Center Section and Original Dome 1857: House Extension 1859: Senate Extension 1866: New Dome 1892: West Front Terrace 1962: East Front Extension 2008: Capitol Visitor Center
When did the Capitol begin construction?
1793
How high above the ground is the Apotheosis of Washington?
180 feet
What is the architectural and usage timeline of the Old Supreme Court Chamber?
1800-1808: The Senate Chamber 1810-1860: Supreme Court Chamber (the Court met upstairs 1860-1935) (originally a two-story chamber) 1814: Chamber burned by the British, and Latrobe was hired to oversee the reconstruction (redesigned the two-story chamber as only one-story to accommodate the Supreme Court and remedy structural issues) 1860-1951: a law library 1952-1961: Joint Committee on Atomic Energy 1962-1972: Storage area 1975: Restored to its 1850s appearance
When were the columns outside of the Old Supreme Court Chamber installed in the North Wing?
1809; the survived the burning of the Capitol by the British in 1814
What is the architectural and usage timeline of the Old Senate Chamber?
1810-1859: Senate Chamber 1860-1935: Supreme Court Chamber 1935-1974: Committee hearings, meetings, and other congressional functions 1976: Restored to its 1859 appearance, when there only 32 states (64 members of the Senate)
When was the original Capitol dome completed?
1824
When was the Crypt completed?
1826
When did construction begin on the extension to the Capitol?
1851
When did Congress vote to replace the original Capitol dome?
1855
When was the Statue of Freedom added to the top of the Capitol dome?
1863
Since when has the Hall in the House Wing been the National Statuary Hall?
1864 to present
When was the Apotheosis of Washington completed?
1865
When was the new Capitol dome completed?
1866, when the scaffolding was removed from below the Apotheosis of Washington painting
When was the first statue donated to the National Statuary Hall?
1870
How tall is the Statue of Freedom?
19 1/2 feet tall
When did the House membership reach its current level, 435?
1910
How many Senators does each state have?
2 for each of the 50 states
How long are terms in the House?
2 years
How high above the ground is the Statue of Freedom?
287 feet above ground level
How much space does the Apotheosis of Washington cover?
4,664 square feet
How many columns are in the Crypt?
40 brown stone columns
Statues in the Rotunda: Ronald Reagan
40th President (1981-1989) Commissioned as part of the Unveiled in the Rotunda in 2009 by Nancy Reagan President Reagan is depicted as he looked during his term in office The pedestal includes narrow band of concrete pieces from the Berlin Wall, the site of his 1987 speech in which he demand "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
How many members are in the House of Representatives?
435
How long are terms in the Senate?
6 years The Senate is divided into 3 classes; 1/3 of the Senators are elected every 2 years
How many pounds of cast iron are in the current Capitol dome?
8.9 million pounds of cast iron
The National Statuary Hall "Whispering Effect"
A result of the room's half-dome shape If one person is standing 6 black squares away from the James Polk plaque and the other at the JQA plague, should be able to hear each other when conversing at a normal volume
Presidential (ish) Statues in the Rotunda (9):
Abraham Lincoln Ronald Reagan George Washington Ulysses S. Grant James Garfield Andrew Jackson Dwight D. Eisenhower Gerald Ford + Alexander Hamilton (first Secretary of the Treasury)
What are the columns outside of the Old Supreme Court Chamber carved out of?
Aquia sandstone from Virginia
What happened to the Capitol building during the War of 1812?
British troops set it on fire on August 24, 1814, destroying much of the interior
What is the Statue of Freedom made out of?
Bronze
Old Senate Chamber: "Porthole portrait" of George Washington
By Rembrandt Peale, completed in 1823 Purchased by the Senate in 1832 for $2,000 The words "Patriae Pater" in the painting mean "father of his country"
Where do you start with your tour group?
Capitol Visitor Center
Who designed the original Capitol dome?
Charles Bulfinch
Who painted the Apotheosis of Washington?
Constantino Brumidi
Who worked on the frieze in the Rotunda?
Constantino Brumidi, Filippo Costaggini, and Allyn Cox
What is special about the design of the columns outside of the Old Supreme Court Chamber?
Designed by B. Henry Latrobe, these 6 columns feature ears and stalks of corn
What is on the perimeter of the Apotheosis of Washington?
Each of the 6 perimeter scenes has a roman gd or goddess surrounded by figures from American history and the latest technology of that time
What type of paint was the Apotheosis of Washington made using?
Fresco (an Italian technique of mixing plaster with paint)
Rotunda Sculptures: Portrait Monument to Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony
From left to right: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott These three women were pioneers in the women's suffrage movement, which won women the right to vote in 1920. The unfinished part of the monument is meant to signify that there is more work to be done for women's rights. Created by sculptor Adelaide Johnson Unveiled in the Capitol on February 15, 1921 (Susan B. Anthony's birthday)
Who laid the Capitol building's southeast cornerstone?
George Washington, on September 19, 1793
What connects the 40 brown stone columns in the Crypt?
Groined sandstone arches
Before it was the National Statuary Hall, what was this room in the House wing used for?
Hall of the House, occupied in 1807 and 1819
Rotunda Sculptures: Bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Honoring the renowned civil rights leader who was was assassinated in 1968. With this bust, Dr. King was the first African American to be honored with a sculpture in the Capitol. This bust was sculpted by John Wilson after being commissioned by Congress Unveiled in the Capitol on 1986, the year Dr. King's birthday was first observed as a federal holiday The bust was permanently moved to the Rotunda in 1988
How was the National Statuary Hall Collection developed?
In 1864, each state was invited to contribute statues of two prominent citizens for permanent display in the room that was renamed/repurposed as the National Statuary Hall
Where is the National Statuary Hall?
In the House wing
What is the crystal chandelier in the small Senate rotunda from?
It is not original to the Capitol It was donated by a local Methodist Church and installed in 1965
When and why was the Hall of the House (now the National Statuary Hall)?
It was burned by the British in 1814 and redesigned and reconstructed from 1815 to 1819
What was the design of the original Capitol dome?
It was made of wood covered in copper, it was 96 feet high, and it had an oculus (circular opening) in the center
What happened to the National Statuary Hall in 1976?
It was restored to its 1823 appearance
What types of people are memorialized in the statues in the National Statuary Hall?
Military leaders, inventors, physicians, presidents, tribal chiefs, teachers, missionaries, an astronaut, and a king
Which ceremonies are held in the Rotunda?
Lying in State or Honor Statue Unveilings Congressional Gold Medals
National Statuary Hall Art: The Car of History
Marble sculpture by Carlo Franzoni from 1837 The clock was made by Simon Willard in 1837 Depicts Clio, the muse of history, writing the book of time as she rides in a clock-wheeled chariot
What are some major Supreme Court cases that were heard in the Old Supreme Court chamber?
Marbury v. Madison, Dartmouth College v. Woodward, McCulloch v. Maryland, United States v. The Amistad, Dred Scott v. Sanford
Are all of the statues in of the National Statuary Hall Collection displayed in the National Statuary Hall?
Nope! That would be way too many! Only 36 statues are displayed in the National Statuary Hall, while other pieces in the collection are on display in other parts of the Capitol, including in the Crypt, the Hall of Columns, and the Capitol Visitor Center
What must you do before tours begin?
Obtain tour passes from a Visitor Assistant at an Information Desk in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center
Does the President of the Senate vote?
Only to break ties
Who directed the casting of the Statue of Freedom?
Philip Reid, "an enslaved African-American laborer"
Rotunda Painting: The Declaration of Independence by John Trumball
Placed in 1826 Depicts the moment when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Continental Congress in the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall in Philadelphia) on June 28, 1776 In the center are the committee members who drafted the D of I: John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin
Rotunda Painting: The Surrender of General Burgoyne by John Trumball
Placed in 1826 Depicts the surrender of British General John Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York on October 17, 1777. This surrender was a turning point in the Revolutionary War that prevented the British from dividing New England from the rest of the colonies and was a deciding factor in bringing active French support to the American cause.
Rotunda Painting: General George Washington Resigning His Commission by John Trumbull
Placed in 1826 Depicts Washington resigning from his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in the Maryland State House in Annapolis on December 23, 1783. This action was significant because it established civilian rather than military rule, which is a fundamental principle in American democracy.
Rotunda Painting: Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull
Placed in 1826 Depicts the surrender of the British army at Yorktown, Virginia on October 19, 1781 (re: "Battle of Yorktown" in Hamilton). This ended the last major campaign of the Revolutionary War. In the center of the scene, American General Benjamin Lincoln is mounted on a white horse. He extends his right hand towards the sword carried by the surrendering British officer. George Washington is in the background because Cornwallis, the commander of the British forces, was not present for the surrender.
Rotunda Painting: Baptism of Pocahontas by John Gadsby Chapman
Placed in 1840 Depicts the ceremony in which Pocahontas was baptized in the Anglican Church in Jamestown, Virginia in either 1613 or 1614. This ceremony and her subsequent marriage to John Rolfe helped establish peaceful relations between the English colonists and Tidewater tribes.
Rotunda Painting: Embarkation of the Pilgrims by Robert Weir
Placed in 1843 Depicts the Pilgrims on the ship Speedwell on July 22, 1620 before they departed from Holland to North America. At the center of the painting, William Brewster holds a Bible and Governor Carver kneels with his head bowed. In the upper left corner, the words "Gd with us" appear on the sail above a rainbow, representing the hope and promise of what lies ahead.
Rotunda Painting: Landing of Columbus by John Vanderlyn
Placed in 1847 Depicts Columbus and members of his crew on a beach in the West Indies, the first landfall of their expedition to find a westward route from Europe to Asia. On October 12, 1492, Columbus and his crew reached an island that he named San Salvador. With his left hand, Columbus is seen raising the royal banner of Aragon and Castile, claiming the land for Spain as a points his sword in his right hand towards the earth.
Rotunda Painting: The Discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto by William H. Powell
Placed in 1855 Depicts the Spanish conquistador Hernando DeSoto riding a white horse as he arrived at the Mississippi River at a point below Natchez on May 8, 1541. He is dressed in Renaissance finery. DeSoto was the first European documented to have seen the river. "As DeSoto and his troops approached, the native Americans in front of their tepees watch, and a chief holds out a peace pipe."
National Statuary Hall Art: Liberty and the Eagle sculpture
Plaster sculpture by Enrico Causici from 1819 Depicts Liberty handing the scroll of the Constitution to the legislators She is flanked by an American eagle and a serpent, representing wisdom
What is depicted on the frieze (the panoramic stone relief carvings) in the Rotunda?
Significant events in American history beginning with the Landing of Columbus and ending with the Birth of Aviation
Debates on ______ occurred in the National Statuary Hall?
Slavery, territorial expansion, war with Mexico, House's election of President John Quincy Adams in 1825, states' rights vs. federal rights
What do you do after obtaining tour passes?
Take your tour group to the Orientation Theatre and watch the orientation film
What do the National Statuary Hall Collection statues in the Crypt represent?
The 13 original states
What is the painting on the ceiling of the Capitol dome called?
The Apotheosis of Washington
Who gifted the Magna Carta Display located in the Crypt?
The British Parliament, in 1976 in recognition of the Bicentennial of the United States
If the Electoral College is tied, who/which body decides the winner of the presidential election?
The House
Which body has the sole power to impeach federal officials and judges?
The House
Which body has the power to originate a bill regarding taxes?
The House (the Senate can amend or reject the bill, but they can't create it themselves)
Some famous historical events that occurred in the Old Senate Chamber
The Missouri Compromise (1820), the Webster-Hayne Debate (1830), the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), the Caning of Senator Charles Sumner (MA) by Preston Brooks (SC) (1856)
Which part of the original Capitol is an "architectural masterpiece"?
The Old Supreme Court Chamber! Originally designed by B. Henry Latrobe and completed by Charles Bulfinch in 1817
Who elects the Speaker of the House?
The Representatives
Which body has the power to approve presidential appointments?
The Senate
Which body has the power to approve treaties?
The Senate
Which body has the power to try impeachments?
The Senate
Who elects the President pro tempore of the Senate?
The Senators
What is the name of the statue at the top of the Capitol dome?
The Statue of Freedom
Who is the President of the Senate?
The Vice President of the United States
What does the compass stone on the center of the floor of the Crypt signify?
The center of the both the Capitol building and the center of the DC grid from which lettered and numbered streets emanate
Who are the busts featured in the Old Supreme Court Chamber?
The first five Chief Justices: In the Court chamber: John Jay (1789-1795), John Rutledge (1795), Oliver Ellsworth (1796-1800), John Marshall (1801-1835), In the Robing Room: Roger Taney (pronounced taw-nee) (1836-1864)
What do the brown stone columns in the Crypt support?
The floor of the Rotunda
What are do the 8 brass plaques on the floor of the National Statuary Hall represent?
The location of desks used in the 1800s by representatives who also served as presidents
Why did Congress vote to replace the original Capitol dome?
The original dome was made out of wood and covered in copper; the new dome would be made of more resilient cast-iron
Who has always elect House members?
The people!
Who now elects Senate members? What changed this?
The people! This change was made following the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913
What are the requirements for statues donated to the National Statuary Hall Collection?
They must be made of marble or bronze They can only depict deceased citizens "illustrious for their historic renown or for distinguished civic or military services"
Who designed the Statue of Freedom?
Thomas Crawford
Who designed the new Capitol dome?
Thomas U. Walter
What is the purpose of the curtains in the National Statuary Hall visitor's gallery?
To dampen the echoes
What is the role of the President pro tempore of the Senate?
To preside over the Senate in the absence of the President of the Senate (the Vice President)
What are the seven high-back mahogany chairs in the Old Supreme Court Chamber?
Typical of the chairs used by the justices. 5 of these chairs actually date back to the 19th C
What are the nine mahogany desks in the Old Supreme Court Chamber?
Typical to those ordered for the justices in 1837. While 3 of the chairs are replicas, 6 of these chairs actually date back to the 19th C
What happened to Constantino Brumidi while he was working on the frieze in the Rotunda?
While working on the figure of William Penn ("in the scene of William Penn and the Indians"), his chair flipped out from under him while he was on the scaffold platform. He was able to grab the ladder, where he hung for 15 minutes until he was rescued
Although most of the furnishings in the Old Senate Chamber are reproductions, are there any original artifacts?
Yes! The Vice President's desk, the Eagle and Shield above the desk, the two marble mantels, and the portrait of George Washington
Are there any non-voting members of the House?
Yes! There are 6: DC and the 5 U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands)
What did the extension of the Capitol add?
a north wing (containing a new Senate chamber) and a south wing (containing a new House chamber) onto the original building
Who originally elected the Senate members?
state legislatures