The capitol

The Capitol is the seat of the US Congress.

The Capitol Building dominates all Washington. It situated on the capitol hill rising above the Potomac River. The site was chosen by Pierre L’Enfant, when he sought to lay out the capital. The Capitol consists of a central building crowned by a great dome and connected at each and by galleries with a large wing. The north wing contains the Senate Chamber, and the south wing – the House of Representatives.

Inauguration of presidents and vise-presidents are held in front the Capitol.

There is a law against building structures higher than the Capitol.

The building got its name from the temple in Rome.

On the very top of the dome there is the 19-foot bronze statue of Freedom. 36 columns surround the lower part of the dome, they represent the states in the Union at the time this building was designed. Beneath the dome is a monumental hall called Rotunda, adorned with works of art relating to American history.

The white house

It is a moot question in Washington whether the Capitol or the White House holds first interest. As the residence of the President perhaps the White House has the edge. Every President except Washington lived there.

The Executive Mansion, as it was originally known, is the oldest public structure in the city. The cornerstone was laid on October 13, 1792, on the 300^th anniversary of Columbus landing at San Salvador. It was in the same year that Games Hoban, an Irish – American, won a prize of 500 dollars offered for the best design of the “President’s House”, according to L’Enfant’s designation.

The home of the president of the US gets its name from its white walls. But the White House wasn’t always white, its original color was grey. During the war of 1812 – 1814 the British burned most of the public buildings in the Washington, including the President’s Palace. The walls were still standing, but the sandstone was so streaked with water and smoke that it seemed lest to paint it white to cover the sears of a fire. That done, it began to be called the “White house”. It has been white ever since. During the administration of Theodore Roosevelt “White House” appeared on the President stationery and the term became official.

Thousand of Americans flock to visit President’s home and office. They are admitted to see the Green Room; the Blue Room, where ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries are received, the state Dining Room and the East Rom, used for public reception. The Oval office – the President’s office – is in the west wing of the White House.

Behind the white house, situated on the hill is the Washington Monument. The corner store for the Monument was laid in 1848, but the Civil was delayed its completion for many years. It was finally opened to the public in 1888. The monument is 555 feet (169 m) high and from this level the whole panorama of the District of Columbia and even parts of Maryland, Virginia can be seen. Its shape is that of an obelisk, a white marble shaft with an aluminum tip, hence its nickname – the “Pencil”(when the moment was built , aluminum was newly-discovered, scarce and very expensive).

The difference in the color of the marble where work was stopped and when resumed after some decades is apparent to the visitors.