Capitol Tour
Lincoln Bust
Completed in 1908 by artist Gutzon Borglum, who carved his face directly into the stone instead of using a plaster model. Lincoln's son said when it was finished that it was "the most extraordinary good portrait of my father I have ever seen". it is rumored that the right ear is the only ear present because Lincoln, being Republican, "only heard the right", but it is also thought to simply be the personal expression of the artist
Ohio statue Thomas Edison replaced:
former Governor William Allen
Old Supreme Court (cont.)
the 9 mahogany desks are typical of those the justices used in late 1830's, and six of them date back to the 19th century. Similarly, seven of the chairs are typical of those used by justices, and 5 date back to the 19th century
Crypt
-40 columns that are the main support of the Rotunda directly above us -exact center of the Capitol building, was completed in 1826 -13 statues in Crypt represent the 13 original colonies, "foundation" of capitol = "foundation" of America
Frieze
-A painting that appears to be 3D, it was began by Constantino Brumidi as well, who sketched the Frieze in 1859 but was not authorized to begin painting until 1878 at the age of 73. While working on the painting, his chair slipped out from under him on the Scaffolding and he nearly fell to his probable death, but was able to hang on for a full 15 minutes before being rescued. -Brumidi contributed from the "Discovery of America by Columbus" to the Discovery of Gold in California, and the rest was filled in by a few separate artists, eventually ending with the Wright Brother's birth of aviation
Rotunda
-Apotheosis of Washington: painted by Constantino Brumidi in 1865 over a period of 11 months, so high up that the Statue of Liberty could fit inside this room. Largely assumed Washington, who died in 1799, would absolutely have hated his portrayal among Roman God's and Goddesses
Old Supreme Court Chamber
-Senate Chamber from 1800-1808 -Supreme Court Chamber from 1810-1860 -Originally a 2 story chamber; was turned into a one story room to accommodate the Supreme Court and fix structural issues -2 Major Supreme Court cases were heard here: McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819, which defined the Constitutions implied powers, and Dred Scott v. Sanford in 1857 -> Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's sculpture sits outside of the court room, some say it's almost a punishment for ruling what is known as the worst Supreme Court decision in history (Dred Scott)
Old Senate Chamber
-Senate Chamber from 1810-1859, associated with the "Golden Age of the Senate", time of great debates about slavery, westward expansion and economic development -Also the Supreme Court chamber from 1860-1935, when they then moved across the street to the current Supreme Court Building -Restored in 1976 to original appearance from 1859, when there were 32 states and therefore 64 members -Most furnishings are reproductions, but Vice President's desk, the Eagle and Shield above it and portrait of George Washington are all original to the chamber
Statuary Hall was used as House Chamber from...
1807-1864
Old Senate Chamber was used from....
1810-1859
Old Senate chamber was used from _______
1810-1859
Old Supreme Court Chamber was used from....
1810-1860
McCulloch v. Maryland:
1819, defined the Constitution's Implied powers, Chief Justice John Marshall
Dred Scott v. Sanford
1857, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, deemed runaway slave Dred Scott was not a citizen and helped precipitate the Civil War
Apotheosis of Washington was painted in...
1865
Frieze was started in:
1878
Statue of Freedom (CVC) is _____ feet tall and weights ______ pounds
19.5 feet tall, 13,000 pounds
MLK statue was placed in :
1986, first African American honored with a statue in the Capitol
Lying in State or Honor
30 people, including Lincoln, Kennedy, Reagan, Rosa Parks and two U.S. Capitol Police officers killed in the Capitol have lain in their coffin in the center of the Rotunda "in honor"
Ronald Reagan statue
40th President of the United States, it was unveiled in 2009 by Nancy Reagan. Look closely, there's a piece of the Berlin Wall underneath him.
Reagan was the ______ President, statue was unveiled in ______
40th, 2009
Caning of Charles Sumner
Caning of Charles Sumner: in 1856, Sumner (MA) was finishing giving a 2 day speech against slavery and everyone who supported it, including the senator cousin of House member Preston Brooks (SC). Brooks heard what was happening, stormed across the Rotunda onto the Senate floor and caned Charles Sumner nearly to death. (Sumner sat at desk with book on right)
Paintings: Baptism of Pocahontas
By John Gadsby Chapman, placed in 1840. It depicts the baptism of Pocahontas in either 1813 or 1814, we're not sure, in a Church in Jamestown, VA. Her husband, John Rolfe, is seen behind her anther father is believed to be the dejected Native American sitting on the floor looking away. Her baptism established relatively peaceful relations between English colonists and the Tidewater tribes
Paintings: Landing of Columbus
By John Vanderlyn, placed in 1847. Columbus and members of his crew are shown on a beach in the West Indies, their first landfall of their expedition to find a westward route from Europe to Asia. He is claiming the land for Spain.
Paintings: Embarkation of the Pilgrims
By Robert Weir, placed in 1843. This painting depicts pilgrims from Holland boarding the Speedwell in 1620. Notice the dark shadow that seems to be covering Europe, where they're leaving, and the rainbow over the sea towards the new world with "God With Us" written on the sail on the left
Paintings: Discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto
By William H. Powell, placed in 1855. Depicts Spanish Conquistador Hernando DeSoto, on the white horse, arriving at the Mississippi in 1541.
Who painted Apotheosis of Washington/part of Frieze?
Constantino Brumidi
Women's Rights Figures Sculpture
Depicts, from L to R, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott, all pioneers of the women's suffrage movement. There is a spot in the stone obviously left uncharted to signify how the women's rights movement is still ongoing
Who is depicted in Women's Suffrage statue (L to R)?
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott
Martin Luther King Jr.
First African American honored with a sculpture in the Capitol, it was commissioned by Congress and unveiled in 1986. Permanently moved to the Rotunda in 1988.
__________ surrendered to the Union Army in ____ (not the Washington one) in _________
General Burgoyne in 1777 in Saratoga NY
King Kamehameha
Hawaiian warrior and King, united all the inhabited islands of Hawaii. The gold on his statue is real gold and was so heavy it started to sink into the floor where he was previously placed, in the Capitol, so it was moved to the CVC.
_______ discovered the Mississippi in ________
Hernando DeSoto in 1541
Chandelier
Imported from Europe in 1903, was in the Baltimore Theatre and then the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church until it was purchased in 1965 and placed here
Ohio statues
James Garfield and Thomas Edison
Pocahontus' baptism was in
Jamestown, Virginia
Who painted 4 rotunda oil paintings?
John Trumbull
_______ surrendered at ___________ to George Washington, last major campaign of the Revolutionary War
Lord Cornwallis, who did not show up, surrendered the British Army to the Americans at Yorktown VA in 1781
_________ beat _____ with a cane in ________
Preston Brooks (SC) beat Charles Sumner (MASS) in 1856
Magna Carta
Replica of the Magna Carta, the English document that contains many principles that underline the Constitution of the United States. This model was a gift from the British Parliament in 1976 in recognition of the Bicentennial of America
Chief Justice that oversaw Dred Scott v. Sanford:
Roger B. Taney
Statue of Freedom
The actual original plaster model for the bronze statue that stands on top of the Capitol Dome. It's 19.5 feet tall and weights about 13,000 pounds. The bronze one on top of the Capitol is about 290 feet above ground level and about 15,000 pounds.
CVC
We are now in the Capitol Visitors Center, which was built in 2008 largely in response to the 9/11 attacks. A much safer, more efficient way to welcome the 3-5 million visitors here per year
Capitol Building
Widely recognized as the symbol of democratic government for the world. It's housed Congress since 1800. Senate Wing was built first in 1800, followed by the House wing in 1807 and the Center and Dome completed in 1829. Entire building underwent expansions in 1850's and 60's and again in the 1960's.