United States Capitol dome, Neoclassical dome at United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
The United States Capitol dome consists of an outer and inner shell made of cast iron, reaching 88 meters above the building. The structure supports a bronze statue known as Freedom at the top, facing east.
Architect Thomas U. Walter designed the new dome between 1855 and 1866, after the original wooden roof became too small for the growing Capitol. Construction continued during the Civil War, when President Lincoln insisted on proceeding with the project as a sign of unity.
Inside the dome, visitors can see a large fresco showing George Washington surrounded by allegorical figures from mythology and American history. The painting is visible from the Rotunda, where looking up reveals the entire composition.
Visitors can enter the Rotunda and see the entire inner dome from there, including the ceiling fresco. Free guided tours are available to access the Capitol, and must be booked in advance.
The cast iron for the dome was produced at a foundry in Pennsylvania and transported to Washington by ship and rail. During construction, workers had to operate on temporary scaffolding at great heights without modern safety equipment now considered standard.
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