After spending several weeks in Allentown, PA, it was time to visit Lorraine’s son, Matthew Ponton, in Maryland. We stayed in the KOA in Millersville – because there are no other RV parks close by. It is always good to see Matthew, of course. He always wants to go out to eat and we love that!
While we were there, we decided to visit the U.S. Capital which neither of us remember visiting before. We may have as kids but didn’t remember. We made our reservations online which was easy.
A word of warning. When you attend these tours expect 100’s of others being there. It is very crowded during the tours – even though they try to separate them 30 minutes apart. The tour groups usually have about 30 people in them. When you get there and get your sticker for your tour, you can go to another line and see if you can attend an earlier tour. They easily hand you a sticker to an earlier tour because many who made reservations didn’t show up.
So let’s start with the outside and then the tour.
of the bronze statue that sits on the top of the Capitol. The Statue of Freedom has crowned the dome since 1863.
Muhlenberg was commissioned a brigadier general in the Continental Army and was active in many battles. He was brevetted major general in 1783.
Returning a hero, he was elected to the Supreme Executive Council in 1784 and served as Pennsylvania’s vice president from 1785 to 1788. He was elected to the First Congress (1788-1789). On some websites, he is known as the Architect of the US Capitol.
The current cast iron dome of the United States Capitol is the second dome to sit above the building. Plans began in May 1854 to build a new cast-iron dome for the United States Capitol, sold on the aesthetics of a new dome, as well as the utility of a fire-proof one.
Visitation of the dome is highly restricted, usually offered only to members of Congress and their select guests. When looking up from the rotunda floor, the railing some 180 feet (55 m) above is barely visible.
Visitation of the dome is highly restricted, usually offered only to members of Congress and their select guests. When looking up from the rotunda floor, the railing some 180 feet (55 m) above is barely visible. Restoration and conservation of the Capitol Dome’s cantilevered peristyle and skirting occurred in 2012. The work was needed because the dome, which last underwent repair and conservation in 1960, was rusting and some ironwork had fallen from the structure. Congress had appropriated no funds for the project, however.
A $60-million, two-year restoration started in early 2014 included removing paint, priming and quickly repainting. Steel pins and “metal stitching” were used to repair cracks, and water damage inside was fixed.
The Apotheosis of Washington is the fresco painted by Greek-Italian artist Constantino Brumidi in 1865 and visible through the oculus of the dome in the rotunda of the United States Capitol Building. The fresco is suspended 180 feet (55 m) above the rotunda floor and covers an area of 4,664 square feet.
This depicts George Washington sitting amongst the heavens in an exalted manner, or in literal terms, ascending and becoming a god (apotheosis). Washington, the first U.S. president and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, is allegorically represented, surrounded by figures from classical mythology. Washington is draped in purple, a royal color, with a rainbow arch at his feet, flanked by the goddess Victoria (draped in green, using a horn) to his left and the Goddess of Liberty to his right. Liberty wears a red Phrygian cap, symbolizing emancipation, from a Roman tradition where sons leaving the home and/or slaves being emancipated would be given a red cap. She holds a fasces in her right hand and an open book in the other.
Forming a circle between Liberty and Victory are 13 maidens, each with a star above her head, representing the original 13 colonies. Several of the maidens have their backs turned to Washington, said to represent the colonies that had seceded from the Union at the time of painting. Upside down above Washington is the banner E Pluribus Unum meaning “out of many, one”.
Surrounding Washington, the two goddesses and the 13 maidens are six scenes lining the perimeter, each representing a national concept allegorically: from directly below Washington in the center and moving clockwise, “War,” “Science,” “Marine,” “Commerce,” “Mechanics,” and “Agriculture”. The perimeter scenes are not fully visible from the floor of the Capitol.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an American suffragist, social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early women’s rights movement.
Susan B. Anthony was an American suffragist, social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early women’s rights movement.
Lucretia Mott was an early feminist activist and strong advocate for ending slavery. A powerful orator, she dedicated her life to speaking out against racial and gender injustice.
From the U.S. Capitol, we went to the Library of Congress.
The Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42) was among the earliest major books printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe. It marked the start of the “Gutenberg Revolution” and the age of printed books in the West. The book is valued and revered for its high aesthetic and artistic qualities
The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. The library is housed in three buildings and
claims to be the largest library in the world.
The piece was completed in 1898 by sculptor Roland Hinton Perry, who was only 28 years old.
King Neptune is center stage. After all, he does rule the oceans. At 12 feet, the muscular Neptune looks like he could defeat anything with a trident. He’s surrounded by two tritons, who are his sons, using conch shells to call the underworld subjects. In front is a wicked looking snake.
