United States Capitol Building

United States Capitol
The west front of the United States Capitol in 2013
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General information
Architectural style	American Neoclassicism
Town or city	Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Country	United States of America
Coordinates	38°53′23.29″N 77°00′32.81″W / 38.8898028°N 77.0091139°W / 38.8898028; -77.0091139Coordinates: 38°53′23.29″N 77°00′32.81″W / 38.8898028°N 77.0091139°W / 38.8898028; -77.0091139
Construction started	September 18, 1793
Completed	1800
Client	Washington administration
Technical details
Floor count	5
Floor area	16.5 acres (6.7 ha)
Design and construction
Architect	William Thornton, designer (See Architect of the Capitol)
Website
www.capitol.gov www.aoc.gov/us-capitol-building

The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol Building, is the home of the United States Congress, and the seat of the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. It sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Though not at the geographic center of the Federal District, the Capitol forms the origin point for the District's street-numbering system and the District's four quadrants.

The original building was completed in 1800 and was subsequently expanded, particularly with the addition of the massive dome, and expanded chambers for the bicameral legislature, the House of Representatives in the south wing and the Senate in the north wing. Like the principal buildings of the executive and judicial branches, the Capitol is built in a distinctive neoclassical style and has a white exterior. Both its east and west elevations are formally referred to as fronts, though only the east front was intended for the reception of visitors and dignitaries.

Prior to establishing the nation's capital in Washington, D.C., the United States Congress and its predecessors had met in Philadelphia (Independence Hall and Congress Hall), New York City (Federal Hall), and a number of other locations (York, Pennsylvania; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland; and Nassau Hall in Princeton, New Jersey). In September 1774, the First Continental Congress brought together delegates from the colonies in Philadelphia, followed by the Second Continental Congress, which met from May 1775 to March 1781.