U.S. Capital Building

The United States Capitol is among the most symbolically important and architecturally impressive buildings in the nation. It has housed the meeting chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate for two centuries. The Capitol, which was started in 1793, has been through many construction phases. It stands today as a monument to the American people and their government.

An example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture, the Capitol evokes the ideals that guided the Founding Fathers as they developed the new republic. Pierre Charles L'Enfant was expected to design the Capitol, but his dismissal in 1792 due to his refusal to cooperate with the Commissioners of the Federal Buildings, resulted in other plans. A competition was suggested by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and President George Washington that would award $500 and a city lot to whomever produced the winning plan by mid-July. None of the 17 plans submitted were satisfactory. In October, a letter arrived from Dr. William Thornton, a Scottish-trained physician living in the British West Indies, requesting an opportunity to submit his plan after the competition was closed. The Commissioners granted his request and President Washington commended the plan that was soon accepted by the Commissioners.

The cornerstone was laid by President Washington on September 18, 1793. Because of Thornton's inexperience, the initial work progressed under the direction of three architects in succession. Stephen H. Hallet and George Hadfield were dismissed because of inappropriate design changes they tried to impose; James Hoban, winner of the competition for the President's House, was placed in charge and saw to the completion of the north wing for the first session of Congress on November 17, 1800. In 1803, construction resumed under Benjamin Henry Latrobe who completed the south and north wings. By 1813, Latrobe, with his job done, departed with the wings connected by a temporary wooden passageway.

On August 24, 1814, British troops set fire to the building during the War of 1812. A rainstorm prevented its complete destruction and Latrobe returned to Washington in 1815 to make repairs. He took this opportunity to make changes to the building's interior design and to introduce new materials, such as marble. Latrobe, however, resigned his post in November of 1817 because of construction delays and increasing costs. Charles Bulfinch, a Boston architect, was appointed Latrobe's successor in January of 1818. Continuing the restoration, he was able to make the chambers of the Senate and House, as well as the Supreme Court, ready for use by 1819. Bulfinch redesigned the central section, making the dome that topped the section higher. Bulfinch spent his last couple of years on the Capitol's landscaping and decoration until his position was terminated in 1829.

By 1850, the Capitol could no longer accommodate the increasing numbers of senators and representatives. Another competition was held offering $500 for the best plan to extend the Capitol. Unable to decide between the plans, Congress divided the money between five architects and Thomas U. Walter was chosen to complete the task. Walter supervised the construction of the extensions, making sure they were compatible with the existing style of the building, but using marble for the exterior instead of sandstone, which deteriorates quickly. As the wings progressed, they more than doubled the length of the Capitol making the dome too small for the new proportions. In 1856, the old dome was removed and work began on a replacement with a new, fireproof cast-iron dome. Construction was suspended in 1861 so that the Capitol could be used as a military barracks, hospital and bakery for the Civil War. However, in 1862, construction resumed, because Lincoln believed that the Capitol must go on, just as the Union must go on.

The work on the dome and extensions was completed in 1868 under Edward Clark, who had served as Walter's assistant until his resignation in 1865. Clark held the post of Architect of the Capitol until his death in 1902. Considerable modernization occurred during his tenure, as well as the construction of the marble terraces on the north, west, and south sides of the Capitol. The terraces were constructed as part of the grounds plan devised by landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. After a fire in November 1898, the need for fireproofing became evident. Elliot Woods, Clark's successor, saw to the reconstruction and fireproofing of the damaged wing.

The 20th century has seen even further changes for the Capitol. Under the direction of J. George Stewart, the appointed Architect of the Capitol, the East front extension added 102 more rooms from 1959 to 1960. The stonework was also changed from sandstone to Georgia marble during the process. After a public protest at further plans to expand in the 1970s, the plans were dismissed and the vote went to restore, rather than enlarge, the West Front. Since then, primary emphasis has been on strengthening, renovating and preserving the building.

Today, the Capitol covers a ground area of 175,170 square feet and has a floor area of about 16.5 acres. In addition to its use by Congress, the Capitol is a museum of American art and history. It stands as a focal point of the government's legislative branch and as a centerpiece of Capitol Hill and the National Mall.

Paranormal Claims

• Late at night a guard reported that in the hall filled with statues of presidents and Congressmen the statues came to life and moved around the room.
• In the basement there is a cat and every time it has been seen, a national disaster occurs. For example; a guard spotted the cat in the late 30's and a week later the stock market crashed. It was also seen before President Kennedy's assasination.
• In the Rotunda, a worker who was killed there has been seen floating around carrying a tray.
• Sometimes you can see the spirit of a Civil War Soldier run through the Rotunda when it is very crowded. The Capital Building was used as a Barracks and Hospital during the Civil War.
• In the Senate, there was a worker that was sealed alive in a wall during the construction of the building, he is occasional seen.
• Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s, phantom has been seen. He was not paid for work he did to design the city that George Washington offered him, but he never got paid for it. He looks unhappy as he hurries along the hallways.
• John Quincy Adam’s luminous ghost has been seen and heard.
• James Abram Garfield, the second President to be assassinated died four months after he was sworn into Office is a haunter.
• Also present is the shade of Charles Julius Guiteau, President Garfield's assassin, which has been sighted lurking on the stairs.
• Vice-President Henry Wilson died of pneumonia while in office when he contracted it by bathing in a tub that had been in the basement. He haunts the Senate Wing. Guards have heard him coughing and sneezing when they could see no human being. People have felt a cold spot near his former office and smelled old time bath soap.
• William Preston Taulbee, a Representative from Kentucky, is said to haunt the Capitol. He was killed by a feuding reporter, Charles Kincaid, who shot him on the stairs leading to the House Press Gallery. He died 11 days later. The steps leading to the pressroom are still stained by Taulbee’s blood. When a reporter trips on those steps, people say ghost is tripping them.
• Capitol Police working at night say they have seen Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton working at his desk in National Statuary Hall although he died in the 1800s.
• The apparition of General John Alexander has appeared at 12:30 AM, looking displeased while he stood at the door of the room once used by the Senate Committee on Military and Militia, one had had chaired in life. He has also been seen in one of the basements.
• Mr. Twine was a dedicated hard worker. Guards still hear stamping books or papers in his office. One of his coworkers died of a stroke after putting $6,000 dollars worth of government bonds in a seldom used library book because he didn't trust banks. He opens books and flipping through them looking for his money. The bonds have never been found.
• A custodian died at work and helps people do their jobs. Workers have seen a mop guided by unseen hands mopping the floors.

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