When the French architect Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant first began to lay out the plans for a new capitol city, he noted that Jenkins' Hill, overlooking what now is Washington D.C., “stood as a pedestal waiting for a monument.” It was here that the U.S. Capitol would be built. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has since been constructed, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored. Today, the Capitol stands alone on the skyline of Washington. By law, no building in Washington may extend above the base of its dome. It is a monument not only to its builders, but also to the American people and their government.

I still remember the first time I visited the U.S. Capitol. I was in 6th grade on a class trip to Washington. Security was not as strict as it is today, and we were allowed to roam the winding halls and tunnels of this magnificent building. 

I remember the path my class took on the way to the Rotunda, the great hall of the Capitol. Through a dimly-lit winding staircase we one-by-one ascended to the second floor of the Capitol. I couldn’t help feeling breathless with anticipation in the musty narrow corridor. As I rounded the corner I remember being taken by the sudden juxtapostioning of the space I occupied and that which I was about to enter. 

Still today, as I walk into the Rotunda, I am immediately aware of my own physical and historical smallness. In the great hall of our Nation’s Capitol, one is encircled by works of art, familiar from the pages of history books, living in great scale and vivid color. One hundred and eighty feet above - a space tall enough to fit the Statue of Liberty – a vibrant fresco by Constantino Brumidi is painted on the canopy of the dome. In the center, George Washington looks down, silently watching. He is flanked by Liberty and Victory, and encircled with 13 maidens representing the 13 original colonies. Around them are gods and goddess representing War, Science, Marine, Commerce, Manufactures, and Agriculture – the pursuits upon which the greatness of our country was forged and built.

Throughout the approximately 16 and 1/2 acres of floor space in the Capitol stand life-size statues of distinguished Americans from our past, two chosen by each state. Each elegantly watch the hundreds of lawmakers, staffers, and visitors make their way through the Capitol everyday. George Washington and Robert E. Lee, Virginia’s selections, flank the entrance to the famous Statuary Hall where a whisper from one side of the room can be heard across the vast space. 

Even in its overwhelming magnitude, the details of the Capitol building were not overlooked. Throughout its approximately 540 rooms are brilliant chandeliers, ornate lighting, intricate tile work, and elaborate frescos. A careful eye can catch metaphoric art at every turn. Groups of thirteen elements representing our first colonies are plentiful in the artwork of the Capitol—leaves on the olive branches, arrows clutched by the eagle, stars in a cluster, or stripes on a shield. Symbols of our agricultural roots – magnolia leaves, tobacco clusters, and corncobs – top majestic granite columns throughout the building. Even the restrooms are breathtaking and rich in metaphor and detail.

Today after three years of walking her halls, even in the rush of a vote or the flurry of business, the beauty of the Capitol still inspires me. Her rich symbolism and careful detail reminds me that our nation was built on the labor of every American and that each chapter of our history is vital in defining who we are today. It reminds us that our abundant blessings are the products of the sacrifices of those that have come before us, and that like those before us, we too have a responsibility to leave a better nation for the generations to come. 

With our Nation’s Capitol only a few hours away, I would like to invite you and your family to join me in Washington this summer for a tour of our Nation’s Capitol. My staff offers tours for groups of 12 or less Monday through Friday until 4pm. We would be honored to share the beauty and history of our Capitol with you.

:: Business with the Federal Government ::

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