United States Capitol

The building was begun in 1793 and burned by British troops in 1814, then rebuilt and repeatedly enlarged. The dome that defines it is not stone but cast iron - nearly four thousand tonnes of it, raised between 1855 and 1866, and construction continued through the civil war because Lincoln wanted it seen to continue. Inside the rotunda, Constantino Brumidi's fresco The Apotheosis of Washington covers the canopy fifty-five metres up, and the figure of Freedom stands on top of the dome outside. Tours are free but need booking, go through the visitor centre, and cover the rotunda, the old chamber and statuary hall rather than the working chambers.

What you actually see

• A cast-iron dome - raised through the civil war, nearly 4,000 tonnes.
• Brumidi's rotunda fresco - fifty-five metres overhead.
• National Statuary Hall - two statues from every state.
• The Freedom statue - on top of the dome outside.

When to go

Year round; book the tour well ahead. Two to three hours.

Honest expectations

Tour passes are limited and go quickly, especially in spring. Security screening is thorough and slow. Working chambers are not on the standard tour. Closures happen at short notice around events.

Nearby

The Library of Congress and Supreme Court are across the street; the Mall runs west.