Virtual Tour of the Capitol

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Even if you cannot make it to Washington DC, you can still take a tour of the Capitol! Click on the links below for a video about each location.

The Capitol CryptThe Capitol Crypt: Construction was completed in 1827. This was planned to be the burial place for George Washington, and it supports the entire weight of the Dome above.

 

 

 

 

Statuary HallStatuary Hall: This is where the House of Representatives met from 1819 to 1857. States can display two statues in the Capitol of major historical figures. This location stores many of those statues.

 

 

 

 

House ChamberHouse Chamber: All 435 members of the House of Representatives meet in this location. The House Chamber is where State of the Union addresses are given and Joint Sessions of Congress are held. 

 

 

 

 

The Old Senate ChamberThe Old Senate Chamber: The Senate met in this room from 1810 to 1859. Today, the room is used for ceremonial purposes only (for example, pictures of Senator Brown were taken here after his swearing in ceremony).

 

 

 

 

Senate ChamberSenate Chamber: There are 100 Senators (two from each state). Democratic Senators sit to the left side, and Republican Senators sit to the right. Any time the Senate is in session, you can watch from the Senate Gallery.

 

 

 

 

Capitol RotundaThe Capitol Rotunda: It is so tall that the Statue of Liberty could fit inside. The artist who painted much of the Capitol was named Constantino Brumidi, and he painted the Frieze and the Apotheosis of Washington, at the very top of the Rotunda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Brumidi CorridorsThe Brumidi Corridors: As some of the most vibrant parts of the Capitol, the corridors were painted in a variety of techniques. For example, the walls were painted in lime-wash fresco, the ceilings in tempera, and the lunettes in true fresco.

 

 

 

 

Old Supreme Court The Old Supreme Court Chamber: The Court met here from 1819 to 1860. The room is a lobed, ribbed half-dome, a design with little precedent that was considered quite bold at the time.  Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated in this room, in front of the middle window.

 

 

 

 

Artwork in the Senate

Much of the artwork in the Capitol depicts scenes from Massachusetts history.

The Frieze

The Frieze: The Frieze is the long painting that wraps around the Rotunda walls. It depicts scenes from America’s history. This scene shows the landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts led by William Brewster.

 

 

The Frieze 2

The Frieze: This is another scene in Massachusetts’ history, the Battle of Lexington and the “shot heard ‘round the world.” The British man on horseback, Major Pitcairn, told the colonists to disarm and disperse, but then a shot was fired, thus starting the American Revolution.

 

The Embarkation of the PilgrimsThe Embarkation of the Pilgrims: This is artist Robert Weir’s most famous work of art. You may notice the background of the painting.  On the right are the city and people the Pilgrims leave, and on the left a rainbow represents the hope and promise of what lies ahead.

 

 

 

Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams: Each state is represented by two statues in the Capitol. Samuel Adams, the “father of the American Revolution” is located in the Crypt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John WinthropJohn Winthrop: The other Massachusetts statue is of John Winthrop, who founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was named governor in 1629.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willard ClockThe Willard Clock: was made by Simon Willard of Massachusetts, at the request of Chief Justice Taney in 1837. The clock is five minutes fast. Taney was extremely punctual, and so he wanted to ensure that the other Justices would be as well. It still runs five minutes fast today.