United States Capitol

===Later expansion===
[[File:Vault ag1982 0119x 085 1 opt.jpg|thumb|The Washington Depot with the U.S. Capitol in the distance in 1872]]
[[File:National Capitol Columns - Washington, D.C..jpg|thumb|[[National Capitol Columns]] at the [[United States National Arboretum|National Arboretum]] in 2008]]
[[File:United States Capitol building under renovation November 2014 photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|The U.S. Capitol with scaffolding erected to facilitate restoration work on the dome in 2014]]
[[File:US Capitol viewed from the visitor centre.jpg|thumb|The Capitol's visitor center in July 2023]]
When the Capitol's new dome was finally completed, its massive visual weight, in turn, overpowered the proportions of the columns of the East [[Portico]], built in 1828.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. National Arboretum |url=https://www.usna.usda.gov/discover/gardens-collections/national-capitol-columns/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=www.usna.usda.gov}}</ref>

In 1904, the East Front of the Capitol building was rebuilt, following a design of the architects [[Carrère and Hastings]], who also designed the [[Russell Senate Office Building|Russell Senate]] and [[Cannon House Office Building|Cannon House]] office buildings in 1904.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cannon House Office Building {{!}} Architect of the Capitol |url=https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/buildings-grounds/house-office-buildings/cannon |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.aoc.gov}}</ref>

In 1958, the next major expansion to the Capitol started, with a {{convert|33.5|ft|adj=on}} extension of the East Portico.{{citation needed| date=October 2012}} In 1960, two years into the project, the dome underwent a restoration.<ref name=Steinhauer/> A marble duplicate of the [[sandstone]] East Front was built {{convert|33.5|ft}} from the old Front. In 1962, a connecting extension repurposed what had been an outside wall as an inside wall. In the process, the original sandstone [[Corinthian order|Corinthian]] [[column]]s were removed and replaced with marble. It was not until 1984 that landscape designer [[Russell Page]] created a suitable setting for them in a large meadow at the [[United States National Arboretum|U.S. National Arboretum]] in northeast Washington as the [[National Capitol Columns]], where they were combined with a reflecting pool into an ensemble that reminds some visitors of the ruins of [[Persepolis]], in [[Persia]].

Besides the columns, two hundred tons of the original stone were removed in several hundred blocks. These were first stored on site at the Capitol and then in an unused yard at the [[Capitol Power Plant]] until 1975.<ref name=":0"/> That year, the power plant was renovated and expanded in accordance with legislation passed in 1970, and the stones fell to the [[Commission on the Extension of the United States Capitol]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Capitol Stones in Rock Creek Park |url=https://architectofthecapital.org/posts/2016/5/30/capitol-stones |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Architect of the Capital |date=September 5, 2016 |language=en-US}}</ref> As this body was long-defunct, responsibility for the material passed to the House and Senate office building commissions.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Leslie |date=1982-06-26 |title=Echoes of the Capitol's Past Lie in Ruins |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1982/06/26/echoes-of-the-capitols-past-lie-in-ruins/0d7f1a43-bcde-41f3-b6ee-b88ee3badd68/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> These commissions then arranged for the [[National Park Service]] to store the debris at the back of a NPS maintenance yard in [[Rock Creek Park]].<ref>Jule Banville, [http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/37113/stone-cold-whodunit "Stone-Cold Whodunit"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116212225/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/37113/stone-cold-whodunit |date=January 16, 2014 }} (April 24, 2009), ''Washington City Paper''</ref><ref>[http://www.rockcreekrunner.com/2011/07/25/stones-from-us-capitol-in-rock-creek-park/ "Stones from US Capitol in Rock Creek Park"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114214717/https://www.rockcreekrunner.com/2011/07/25/stones-from-us-capitol-in-rock-creek-park/ |date=January 14, 2021 }} (July 25, 2011), ''Rock Creek Runner''</ref> 

With the permission of the [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]], the United States Capitol Historical Society has periodically mined the blocks for sandstone since 1975. The stone removed is used to make commemorative bookends, which are still sold to support the Capitol Historical Society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sandstone Bookends |url=https://www.uschscatalog.org/prod-122-1-40-111/sandstone-bookends.htm |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=USCHS Gift Shop}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sandstone Bookends Without Base |url=https://www.uschscatalog.org/prod-122-1-39-111/sandstone-bookends-without-base.htm |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=USCHS Gift Shop}}</ref> By 1982, more than $20,000 (nearly $60,000 [[Adjusted-for-inflation|adjusted]]) had been raised through such sales.<ref name=":0" /> Unpursued uses for the stones proposed by the Capitol Historical Society have included their sale as cornerstones in new housing developments.<ref name=":0" />

On December 19, 1960, the Capitol was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] by the National Park Service.<ref name=inventory>{{cite web | url= http://www.planning.dc.gov/planning/frames.asp?doc=/planning/lib/planning/preservation/hp_inventory/inventory_narrative_sep_2004.pdf | title= District of Columbia – Inventory of Historic Sites | date= September 1, 2004 | work= District of Columbia: Office of Planning | publisher= Government of the District of Columbia | access-date= August 9, 2009 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090717032933/http://planning.dc.gov/planning/frames.asp?doc=%2Fplanning%2Flib%2Fplanning%2Fpreservation%2Fhp_inventory%2Finventory_narrative_sep_2004.pdf | archive-date= July 17, 2009 | df= mdy-all }}</ref> The building was ranked #6 in a 2007 survey conducted for the [[American Institute of Architects]]' "[[America's Favorite Architecture]]" list.<ref name=AIAfavorite>{{cite web | url= http://favoritearchitecture.org/afa150.php | title= America's Favorite Architecture | year= 2007 | work= Harris Interactive | publisher= American Institute of Architects | access-date= August 9, 2009 | archive-date= May 18, 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070518053904/http://favoritearchitecture.org/afa150.php | url-status= dead }}</ref> 

The Capitol draws heavily from other notable buildings, especially churches and landmarks in Europe, including the dome of [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in the [[Vatican City|Vatican]] and [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] in London.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.american-architecture.info/USA/USA-Washington/DC-004.htm | title=World Architecture Images- U.S. Capitol | publisher=American-architecture.info | access-date=November 5, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026032757/http://www.american-architecture.info/USA/USA-Washington/DC-004.htm | archive-date=October 26, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> On the roofs of the Senate and House Chambers are flagpoles that fly the [[Flag of the United States|U.S. flag]] when either is in session. On September 18, 1993, to commemorate the Capitol's bicentennial, the Masonic ritual cornerstone laying with George Washington was reenacted. U.S. Senator [[Strom Thurmond]] was one of the Freemason politicians who took part in the ceremony.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

On June 20, 2000, ground was broken for the [[Capitol Visitor Center]], which opened on December 2, 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/Visit/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions/#q1 | title=Capitol Visitors Center FAQ | publisher=Architect Of the Capitol | access-date=December 4, 2008 }}</ref> From 2001 through 2008, the East Front of the Capitol (site of most [[United States presidential inauguration|presidential inaugurations]] until [[Ronald Reagan]] began a new tradition in 1981) was the site of construction for this massive underground complex, designed to facilitate a more orderly entrance for visitors to the Capitol. Prior to the center being built, visitors to the Capitol had to line up in the basement of the Cannon House Office Building or the Russell Senate Office Building. The new underground facility provides a grand entrance hall, a visitors theater, room for exhibits, and dining and restroom facilities, in addition to space for building necessities such as a [[utility tunnel|service tunnel]].{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

A large-scale Capitol dome restoration project, the first extensive such work since 1959–1960, began in 2014, with completion scheduled before the 2017 presidential inauguration.<ref name=AoC2014Restoration>{{cite web |title=Capitol Dome Restoration Project Overview |url=http://www.aoc.gov/dome/project-overview |website=[[Architect of the Capitol]] |access-date=November 12, 2014 }}</ref> As of 2012, $20&nbsp;million in work around the skirt of the dome had been completed, but other deterioration, including at least 1,300 cracks in the brittle iron that have led to rusting and seepage inside, needed to be addressed. Before the August 2012 recess, the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]] voted to spend $61&nbsp;million to repair the exterior of the dome. The House wanted to spend less on government operations,<ref name=Steinhauer>{{cite news | url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/25/us/politics/capitol-dome-is-imperiled-by-cracks-and-a-partisan-divide.html?_r=0Capitol | title= Dome Is Imperiled by 1,300 Cracks and Partisan Rift | last= Steinhauer | first= Jennifer | date= August 24, 2012 | work= [[The New York Times]] | access-date= October 4, 2012 }}</ref> but in late 2013, it was announced that renovations would take place over two years, starting in spring 2014.<ref name=Renovation>{{cite news | url=http://www.journalnow.com/news/nation_world/article_10cd6438-6dd8-11e3-b195-001a4bcf6878.html | title=Capitol's historic dome set for 2-year renovation | work=[[Winston-Salem Journal]] | agency=[[Associated Press]] | date=December 26, 2013 | access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref> 

In 2014, extensive scaffolding was erected, enclosing and obscuring the dome.<ref name=AoC2014Restoration/><ref>{{cite AV media |author=Architect of the Capitol |title=In Celebration of the U.S. Capitol Dome |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azMdEHP-FL0 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211029/azMdEHP-FL0| archive-date=2021-10-29|date=December 15, 2016 |website=YouTube |access-date=August 26, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> All exterior scaffolding was removed by mid-September 2016.<ref name=AoCProjectUpdates>{{cite web |title=Dome Restoration Project Updates |url=http://www.aoc.gov/dome/project-updates |website=Architect of the Capitol |access-date=October 19, 2016 }}</ref>

With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet, a bid tendering process was approved in 2001/2002 for a contract to install the multidirectional radio communication network for [[Wi-Fi]] and mobile-phone within the Capitol Building and annexes, followed by the new Capitol Visitor Center. The winning bidder was an [[Silicon Wadi|Israeli company]] called Foxcom which has since changed its name and been acquired by [[Corning Inc.|Corning Incorporated]].<ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Bresnahan |title=House Ends Cell Phone Licensing Deal |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/02/house-ends-cell-phone-licensing-deal-002910 |work=[[Politico]] |date=February 26, 2007 |access-date=January 11, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Jackie |last=Kucinich |title=Hastert rebuffs Pelosi on investigation request |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/8386-hastert-rebuffs-pelosi-on-investigation-request/ |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=October 26, 2005 |access-date=2019-01-11}}</ref>