U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C. (must see)

Overlooking the Washington Monument from the opposite end of the National Mall, the United States Capitol looks all calm, balanced, and dignified, as befitting a building where political arguments have been echoing for more than two centuries. Home to the United States Congress—with the House of Representatives in the south wing and the Senate in the north—it has 540 rooms, five floors, and the grand Capitol Rotunda, where art and sculpture turn American history into something you can admire, question, and quietly compare to the version you remember from school...

Getting the Capitol built wasn't exactly a smooth group project. After plenty of debate over the design, the cornerstone was laid on September 18, 1793, by President George Washington, who arrived at the ceremony in full Masonic attire. The north wing was completed in 1800, the same year the federal government moved to Washington. Curiously, for several decades, the Capitol was used not only for government business but also for Sunday religious services, apparently handling legislation, prayer, and civic optimism all at once...

The building’s early years came with serious drama. Soon after it was completed in 1811, British troops partially burned it during the War of 1812, in August 1814. The damaged sections were rebuilt, and the Rotunda was added in 1826.

In the 1850s, the Capitol was expanded again, and its earlier wooden dome was replaced with the cast-iron dome seen today. Inside that dome is The Apotheosis of Washington, a fresco showing George Washington rising into a rather heavenly scene. From the Rotunda floor, look up through the oculus—this is one of the few places where staring at the ceiling counts as good cultural behavior...

The Capitol is open to visitors, with free tours starting at the Capitol Visitor Center, which opened in 2008. Book early for a better choice of time slots, arrive 30 to 45 minutes ahead for security, and leave food and drinks behind. Visitors may also watch Congress in session from designated galleries, with passes available through senators, representatives, or, for overseas visitors, the Senate and House Appointment Desks.

One final practical detail: both the east and west sides of the Capitol can be called the “front,” so use east or west when asking for directions. After your visit, look for the tunnel leading directly to the Library of Congress — a smooth next step from lawmaking to book-loving grandeur...