The U.S. Capitol: More Than Just a Building

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A Capital Decision

In 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, making Washington, D.C., the official capital of the newly formed United States.

At the time, the country had only 14 states, and Congress had around 50 members. A place where these lawmakers could meet, debate, and pass laws was needed. Enter the idea for the Capitol building.

The legislative branch, which includes the Senate and House of Representatives, needed a permanent home. The challenge was that Washington, D.C., wasn't much of a city yet—just open land waiting to be built upon.

The Capitol's Rocky Start

Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French architect, was tasked with designing the city. He picked a location for the Capitol at the highest elevation in the area—a great choice!

But when it came time to create the actual building, L'Enfant had a problem. He refused to put his ideas on paper, and Congress quickly fired him.

Instead of hiring another architect, Thomas Jefferson held a public design competition. Seventeen people entered, but none of the designs won.

Then, a Scottish doctor named William Thornton submitted his design—late. Even so, Congress loved it, and the Capitol finally had a blueprint.

A Building That Almost Wasn't

Construction on the Capitol began in 1793, but progress was slow. Some of the problems included:

frequent firing of architects who tried to make changes

a lack of funding from Congress

a shortage of workers willing to move to a city that didn't yet exist

By 1800, the first phase was complete, meaning Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress could move in. However, many rooms remained unfinished because of cost issues.

Then disaster struck. In 1814, during the War of 1812, the British set fire to the Capitol, destroying much of the building. A sudden rainstorm saved it from being completely burned down.

The U.S. immediately began rebuilding, but funding remained an issue. As the country grew and added more states, the Capitol had to expand to accommodate more lawmakers.

The Capitol Today

By the late 1800s, the Capitol looked much like today, with two wings and a central dome topped by the Statue of Freedom.

It now has 540 rooms and covers 175,170 square feet. Even with all that space, there still isn't enough room for all 535 members of Congress—some have offices in nearby buildings.

The Supreme Court and Library of Congress now have their own buildings, leaving the Capitol solely for Congress. Every year, millions of visitors explore its grand halls, statues, and historic chambers, witnessing democracy in action.

Review the history and construction of the Capitol with the following video.

Now, it's time to test your knowledge with a virtual tour and some interactive activities in the Got It? section.