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Lying in State of President George H. W. Bush


The public is invited to pay their respects to President George H. W. Bush from 7:30 p.m. Monday, December 3, to 7 a.m. Wednesday, December 5. Please enter through the Capitol Visitor Center.

On Monday, December 3, Tuesday, December 4, and Wednesday, December 5, the Capitol Visitor Center will be closed for normal operations, and all Capitol tours are cancelled.

If you have a tour reservation and would like to reschedule, please visit our website at www.visitthecapitol.gov or contact the Visitor Services Office at (202)226-8000.

On Thursday, December 6, the Capitol Visitor Center will reopen for normal operations 8:30 a.m.

The Apotheosis of Washington

Painted in 1865 by Constantino Brumidi, the Apotheosis of Washington in the eye of the U.S. Capitol Building's 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.

The Apotheosis The Apotheosis The Apotheosis depicts George Washington ascending into the heavens. In the center, Washington is flanked by allegorical figures representing Liberty/Authority and Victory/…
George Washington Rising to the Heavens George Washington Rising to the Heavens Brumidi depicted George Washington Rising to the heavens in glory, flanked by female figures representing Liberty and Victory/Fame. A rainbow arches at his feet, and thirteen…
War War Armored Freedom, sword raised and cape flying, with a helmet and shield reminiscent of those on the Statue of Freedom, tramples Tyranny and Kingly Power; she is assisted by a…
Science Science Minerva, goddess of wisdom and the arts of civilization, with helmet and spear, points to an electric generator creating power stored in batteries, next to a printing press,…
Marine Marine Neptune, god of the sea, holding his trident and crowned with seaweed, rides in a shell chariot drawn by sea horses. Venus, goddess of love born from the sea, helps lay the…
Commerce Commerce Mercury, god of commerce, with his winged cap and sandals and caduceus, hands a bag of gold to Robert Morris, financier of the Revolutionary War. On the left, men move a box…
Mechanics Mechanics Vulcan, god of the forge, stands at his anvil with his foot on a cannon, near a pile of cannon balls and with a steam engine in the background. The man at the forge is…
Agriculture Agriculture Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, is shown with a wreath of wheat and a cornucopia, seated on a McCormick reaper. Young America in a liberty cap holds the reins of the…