CNN - TravelGuide: Washington, D.C.

U.S. Capitol
On September 18, 1793, President George Washington laid the first cornerstone of the Capitol, setting into motion a seemingly endless series of additions, restorations and expansions necessary to keep pace with a growing nation.
Today, the Capitol building is divided into three general areas: the north wing which houses the Senate, the south wing which contains the House of Representatives and the connecting centerpiece of the two wings -- the Rotunda. During the Civil War, the original low copper and wood dome was replaced with the current cast iron dome.
The interior Rotunda contains giant canvases illustrating the European discovery and settlement of the United States, and scenes of the American Revolution. On the ceiling of the dome, Italian-American artist Constantino Brumidi painted "The Apotheosis of Washington," depicting George Washington surrounded by symbols of American democracy and technological progress.
Related sites:
Architect of the Capitol
Senate
House of Representatives

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