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The Capitol's Big Round Room!

Imagine a giant, beautiful room inside a famous building where important things happen and amazing art is shown!

Images

Close-Up of the Apotheosis of Washington, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.

Close-Up of the Apotheosis of Washington, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.

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Baptism of Pocahontas, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
The Apotheosis of Washington, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
Battle of Lexington, Declaration of Independence, Surrender of Cornwallis, Death of Tecumseh, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
Center of the U.S. Capitol Building Rotunda, Where at Least 11 U.S. Presidents Have Lied in State, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
United States Capitol Rotunda
Birth of Aviation, American in History, Landing of Columbus, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
Declaration of Independence, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
Pizarro Going to Peru, Burial of De Soto, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
Discovery of Gold in California, Peace at the End of the Civil War, Naval Gun Crew in the Spanish-American War, the Birth of Aviation, America in History, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
Cortez and Montezuma at Mexican Temple, Pizarro Going to Peru, Burial of De Soto, Captain Smith and Pocahontas, Landing of the Pilgrims, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.
Colonization of New England, Oglethorpe and the Indians, the Battle of Lexington, Declaration of Independence, United States Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C.

Key Facts

Location
Washington D.C., United States
Year Built
Between 1818 and 1824
Diameter
96 feet
Height to Dome Canopy
180 feet 3 inches
Fun Fact
The rotunda is so big, you could fit about 16 school buses side-by-side across its diameter!

Welcome to the Big Round Room!

The Capitol building in Washington D.C. has a super special room called the rotunda. It's like the heart of the building! It's a huge, round space with a giant dome way up high. This room is where lots of important people gather, and it's decorated with amazing paintings and statues that tell stories about America. It's a place where history is made and remembered!

How Big Is It, Really?

This rotunda is HUGE! It's 96 feet wide, which is like fitting about 16 school buses side-by-side. It's 48 feet tall to the top of the walls, and if you look all the way up to the very top of the dome, it's as tall as a 50-story building! Thousands of people visit this amazing room every single day to see all the cool art and feel the history.

Art That Tells Stories!

Inside the rotunda, you'll find incredible paintings and sculptures. These aren't just pretty pictures; they show important moments from American history, like big battles and famous leaders. It's like a giant art museum that helps everyone remember what happened long ago. There are also statues of important people who did great things for the country.

A Place for Special Moments

Sometimes, the rotunda is used for very special events. When someone very important to the country passes away, they might lie in state here, which means people can come and pay their respects. It's a very solemn and honorable moment. It shows how much this room means to the whole country.

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Based on content from Wikipedia Β· Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0