Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
8. 1851
The Capitol is again damaged by fire. It is redesigned and rebuilt once more under
the direction of Thomas U. Walter, who designs the cast-iron dome. Work continues
on the Dome during the Civil War, while the Capitol is also used as a hospital, bar-
racks, and bakery.
9. 1880S-1900
Modern electrical lighting and the first elevator are installed.
10. 1958-1962
The east front is extended 32 ft (10 m) east of the old sandstone front. The west front
is restored between 1983 and 1987. This work produces the Capitol we see today.
The Statue of Freedom
Crowning the Capitol dome stands Thomas Crawford's Statue of Freedom, com-
missioned in 1855, and, according to Capitol police officers, the figure is the
most common subject of visitors' questions. Why does it face to the east, away
from the nation? Freedom is depicted as a classical female figure, draped in
flowing robes. Her Roman helmet, however, features the crest of an eagle's head,
feathers, and talons, which some believe to be a reference to Native Americ-
an dress. Crawford substituted the Roman helmet for the original liberty cap, a
symbol of freed slaves, when the then US Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, ob-
jected. The statue faces east in accordance with the front of the building, not the
rest of the country. The east front was made the main building entrance simply
because it faces an approach of level ground. This monumental symbol of liberty
is 19.5 ft (6 m) tall and weighs around 15,000 lbs (6,800 kg). Sadly Crawford
died in 1857, before it was erected.
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