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The Capitol Dome
Design and Construction * Restoration * Inspiration
Design and Construction:
In 1793, President George Washington selected the design for the U.S. Capitol Building (pictured far left). Dr. William Thornton submitted the plan, modeled after the Roman Pantheon.
In the 1850s the Capitol underwent an expansion that added the north and south wings. To match the building's increased size, Architect of the Capitol Thomas U. Walter proposed a new Dome (pictured left). Walter's design used cast iron, making the Dome lighter and less costly than if it were built with stone.
Congress authorized construction in 1855, and work continued during the Civil War. Workers installed the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol Dome on December 2, 1865.
Restoration:
The Capitol Dome has suffered from the effects of weather and age. More than 1,000 cracks have developed in its cast iron, needing repair (pictured far right). The last major restoration took place in 1959-1960 (pictured right).
Significant repairs of the Dome's exterior began in November 2013, to stop deterioration and preserve the Dome for future generations. This multi-year effort includes restoring historic cast-iron elements, weatherproofing the exterior, replacing broken windows, and removing hazardous materials. The work requires extensive scaffolding outside the dome and a safety net suspended inside the Rotunda.
For more project information, visit aoc.gov/dome
Inspiration:
The bronze Statue of Freedom stands as the crowning feature of the Capitol Dome. Thomas Crawford designed and sculpted the statue in Rome, and Clark Mills' foundry cast it in bronze in Washington, DC. The classical female figure wears a headdress with an eagle head and feathers and holds a sheathed sword, the striped shield of the United States, and a wreath of victory.
Today, the Statue of Freedom and the Capitol Dome are recognized symbols of American democracy known around the world. |