Thursday, June 1, 2017

A US Capitol Tour Is An Amazing Lesson In History And Architecture

By Brian Morris


Washington, D. C. Is an exciting place to visit. There is more to do and see here than is possible in one trip. Most tourists make the White House their first stop. The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument are often next, along with the Mall. No visit would be complete though without taking time for a US Capitol tour.

All government buildings are carefully guarded and monitored these days. Entering the congressional building requires a security check and a stop by the visitor's desk. Pre-planning tours and registering in advance is a much better idea than just showing up and hoping to see the most iconic features of this building. Although tours are conducted all day, six days of the week, they are popular with tourists. You may be out of luck without reservations.

The Crypt is located on the first floor of the Capitol, and is an interesting section of this building to visit. There are forty Doric columns that originally held up the overhead Rotunda. Guides will describe the architectural style and give an overview of the history of this room. There is a copy of the Magna Carta for viewing. Thirteen statues, representing the thirteen original colonies, are strategically placed.

The massive Rotunda is on the agenda of most tours in this building. This amazing round, domed room serves as a place for ceremonial events. Many have seen portions of this area on televised news events reporting the passing of Presidents and other prominent citizens. You will see historic artworks, Presidential statues, and friezes depicting important events in the country's history in this area.

The National Statuary Hall is another area of this building included in most tours. You go through it on the way from the Rotunda to the House of Representatives wing. Currently there are thirty-five statues representing major figures from various states. In all, the building houses one hundred figures, two per state.

Guests are encouraged to tour Exhibition Hall while they are in the vicinity. It is a wonderful way to teach children of all ages more about the history of the United States and how the Founding Fathers developed the three branches of governments with their system of checks and balances. Touring the grounds is a treat for those interested in horticulture and landscaping.

Visiting such an important place requires a certain amount of respect and courtesy. There is no formal dress code, but visitors are expected to dress appropriately for the surroundings. No food or drink is allowed in the building, and cell phones should be silenced.

A visit to the nation's capital is an exciting way to spend a vacation or long weekend. You will have to plan ahead to take advantage of all it has to offer. Most return to see interesting buildings they missed the first time.




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