The United States Capitol: Its Architecture and Decoration

This wonderfully illustrated volume traces the architectural antecedents and building history of the magnificent U.S. Capitol. The U.S. Capitol, the building that houses the legislative branch of our government and a landmark that attracts 3-5 million visitors each year, has its origins in an architectural competition devised by George Washington. The winning design, submitted by William Thornton, combined "grandeur, simplicity, and convenience." Construction began in August 1793, but progr...