CAPITAL BUILDING OF THE UNITED STATES

The Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama will be held in Washington DC on Monday, January 21, 2013.  A week of festivities will include the Presidential Swearing-in Ceremony, Inaugural Address, Inaugural Parade and numerous inaugural balls and galas honoring the elected President of the United States.

The official theme for the 2013 inauguration is “Faith in America’s Future,” commemorating the United States’ perseverance and unity, marking the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the placement of the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol Dome in 1863. 

In honor of this historical event, I thought I would share some photos of my trip to the Capitol (back in April) in response to Flickr Comments tagged “C” challenge hosted by FrizzText.  Visit his site in the above link for other entries.

Capitol Visitor Center 

The first stop on a tour is The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center which provides a welcoming and educational environment for visitors to learn about the unique characteristics of the House and the Senate and the legislative process as well as the history and development of the architecture and art of the U.S. Capitol. 

Capitol Rotunda

The Capitol Rotunda is a large, domed, circular room located 96 feet in diameter and 180 feet in height located in the center of the U.S. Capitol on the second floor. The Rotunda is used for important ceremonial events as authorized by concurrent resolution, such as the lying in state of eminent citizens and the dedication of works of art. The Rotunda canopy features the painting entitled The Apotheosis of Washington, and the walls of the Rotunda hold historic paintings and a frescoed band, or “frieze,” depicting significant events in American history.

The Frieze of American History 

 The Frieze of American History in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol contains a painted panorama depicting significant events in American history. The frieze’s 19 scenes is the work of three artists: Constantino Brumidi, Filippo Constaggini and Allyn Cox. The frieze is painted in grisaille, a monochrome of whites and browns that resembles sculpture. It measures 8 feet 4 inches in height and approximately 300 feet in circumference. It starts 58 feet above the floor. 

Apotheosis of Washington

Painted in 1865 by Constantino Brumidi, the Apotheosis of Washington in the eye of the Capitol Rotunda depicts George Washington rising to the heavens in glory, flanked by female figures representing Liberty and Victory/Fame and surrounded by six groups of figures. The fresco is suspended 180 feet above the Rotunda floor and covers an area of 4,664 square feet.

Car of History Clock

This marble sculpture, created in 1819, is among the oldest works of art in the U.S. Capitol. It depicts Clio, the muse of History, holding a book in which she records events as they unfold.

National Statuary Hall

National Statuary Hall, also known as the Old Hall of the House, is the large, two-story, semicircular room south of the Rotunda. This historic space was the meeting place of the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 50 years (1807-1857), and now serves as the main exhibition space for the National Statuary Hall Collection.  Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol is also the area for the traditional Inaugural luncheon, hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC).

Old Senate Chamber

Located north of the Capitol Rotunda is the richly decorated Old Senate Chamber. Designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, this room was home to the U.S. Senate from 1819 until 1859 and later to the U.S. Supreme Court from 1860-1935. Today the restored Chamber is used primarily as a museum, recreating the scene of many significant moments in the evolution of the United States Senate and the legislative history of the nation.

Statue of Freedom 

The bronze Statue of Freedom by Thomas Crawford is the crowning feature of the dome of the United States Capitol. The bronze statue stands 19 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 15,000 pounds.

The statue is a classical female figure of Freedom wearing flowing draperies. Her right hand rests upon the hilt of a sheathed sword; her left holds a laurel wreath of victory and the shield of the United States with 13 stripes. Her helmet is encircled by stars and features a crest composed of an eagle’s head, feathers, and talons, a reference to the costume of Native Americans. A brooch inscribed “U.S.” secures her fringed robes. She stands on a cast-iron globe encircled with the words E Pluribus Unum, the national motto at the time of her placement atop the dome.  

“E pluribus unum” is Latin; it means “Out of Many One” and refers to the idea that the United States is made up of individual states and populated by individual citizens, but we come together as a single country. It is on most US coins.

I hope you enjoyed my trip to the Capital.  Thank you for taking time to read this post.  I appreciate your visit.

Information taken from the following sites.

United States Capital Building

Inauguration 2013

BE ENCOURAGED!  BE BLESSED!