The Capitol was designed by William Thornton, an Irish doctor-turned-architect, and built between 1793 and 1800 after a competition among several Architects vying for the prestigious commission. Although renovations have been made through its lengthy history, much of its original appearance remains due to a renovation project undertaken in 1959. The building stands at over 272 feet tall with a floor area of around 600,000 square feet and is considered one of America’s most beautiful public spaces and sculptures with features like its grand pediments, columns, staircases and unique dome known as the rotunda contained within it’s walls are just some examples. The Capitol also features exhibits that showcase objects related to U.S government history including George Washington’s sword from his inauguration day speech and first ladies’ gowns on display in Statuary Hall. The impressive architecture combined with all of these historical artifacts make this iconic site an incredible place to visit or experience when in our nation’s capitol