United States Capitol

==Exterior==
===Grounds===
{{See also|United States Capitol Complex}}
[[File:Aerial view of the Capitol Hill.jpg|thumb|A 2004 aerial view of the [[United States Capitol Complex|Capitol Grounds]] from the west]]
[[File:U.S. Capitol grounds magnolias in March 2020.jpg|thumb|[[Magnolia]]s bloom on the Capitol Grounds in March 2020]]
The [[United States Capitol Complex|Capitol Grounds]] cover approximately 274 acres (1.11&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), with the grounds proper consisting mostly of lawns, walkways, streets, drives, and planting areas. Several monumental sculptures used to be located on the east facade and lawn of the Capitol including ''[[The Rescue (statue)|The Rescue]]'' and ''[[George Washington (Greenough)|George Washington]]''. The current grounds were designed by noted American [[landscape architect]] [[Frederick Law Olmsted]], who planned the expansion and landscaping performed from 1874 to 1892. In 1875, as one of his first recommendations, Olmsted proposed the construction of the [[marble]] [[Terrace garden|terraces]] on the north, west, and south sides of the building that exist today.

Olmsted also designed the Summerhouse, the open-air brick building that sits just north of the Capitol. Three [[arch]]es open into the [[hexagon]]al structure, which encloses a fountain and twenty-two brick chairs. A fourth wall holds a small window which looks onto an artificial [[grotto]]. Built between 1879 and 1881, the Summerhouse was intended to answer complaints that visitors to the Capitol had no place to sit and no place to obtain water for their horses and themselves. Modern [[drinking fountain]]s have since replaced Olmsted's fountain for the latter purpose. Olmsted intended to build a second, matching Summerhouse on the southern side of the Capitol, but congressional objections led to the project's cancellation.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.aoc.gov/capitol-grounds/summerhouse
|title=Summerhouse
|website=Architect of the Capitol
|access-date=2019-08-20
}}</ref>

===Flags===
Up to four [[Flag of the United States|U.S. flags]] can be seen flying over the Capitol. Two flagpoles are located at the base of the dome on the East and West sides. These flagpoles have flown the flag day and night since [[World War I]]. The other two flagpoles are above the North (Senate) and South (House of Representatives) wings of the building, and fly only when the chamber below is in session. The flag above the House of Representatives is raised and lowered by [[United States House of Representatives Page|House pages]]. The flag above the United States Senate is raised and lowered by Senate Doorkeepers. To raise the flag, Doorkeepers access the roof of the Capitol from the [[Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate|Senate Sergeant at Arms]]'s office. Several auxiliary flagpoles, to the west of the dome and not visible from the ground, are used to meet congressional requests for flags flown over the Capitol.{{Citation needed | date=September 2010 | reason=these auxiliary flagpoles do not seem to appear in aerial photos...}} [[Electoral district|Constituents]] pay for U.S. flags flown over the Capitol to commemorate a variety of events such as the death of a [[veteran]] family member.