Capitol Tour

Jared and I have known Emily Dillard most of our lives. We both grew up with her at the University Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. My sis, Jess, was Emily's roommate when she lived in D.C. a few years ago. Emily is a Legislative Correspondent in Texas Senator John Cornyn’s office. Emily hooked us up with our Pentagon tour, our White House tour, and did our private Capitol tour herself.

Since congress was not is session that week Em was able to tote her chiwawa, Coco Chanel, around on the tour… so Legally Blonde of her! :)

The group in the new Capitol Visitors Center. ("The underground, 3-level, 580,000-square-foot United States Capitol Visitor Center opened on December 2, 2008. The estimated final cost is about $621 million." Wikipedia)

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"The Capitol has a long history in art of the United States, beginning in 1856 with Italian/Greek-American artist Constantino Brumidi and his murals in the hallways of the first floor of the Senate side of the Capitol. The murals, known as the Brumidi Corridors, reflect great moments and people in United States history. Among the original works are those depicting Benjamin Franklin, John Fitch, Robert Fulton, and events such as the Cession of Louisiana. Also decorating the walls are animals, insects and natural flora indigenous to the United States. Brumidi's design left many spaces open so that future events in United States history could be added. Among those added are the Spirit of St. Louis, the Moon landing, and the Challenger shuttle crew."
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"Brumidi also worked within the Capitol Rotunda. He is responsible for the painting of The Apotheosis of Washington beneath the top of the dome, and also the famous Frieze of United States History. The Apotheosis of Washington was completed in 11 months and painted by Brumidi while suspended nearly 180 feet (55 m) in the air. It is said to be the first attempt by the United States to deify a founding father. Washington is depicted surrounded by 13 maidens in an inner ring with many Greek and Roman gods and goddesses below him in a second ring. The frieze is located around the inside of the base of the dome and is a chronological, pictorial history of the United States from the landing of Christopher Columbus to the Wright Brothers's flight in Kitty Hawk. The frieze was started in 1878 and was not completed until 1953. The frieze was therefore painted by four different artists: Brumidi, Filippo Costaggini, Charles Ayer Whipple, and Allyn Cox. The final scenes depicted in the fresco had not yet occurred when Brumidi began his Frieze of the United States History." (check out Wikipedia, United States Capitol, for this information and more)

The Apotheosis of Washington

The landing of Christopher Columbus

A marble statue of three influential women in American history. The fourth lump of marble (back left of the statue) is being saved for the 1st woman President.

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Group and couple pics in the Rotunda.

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More pics.

I'm loving this door!

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Em took us on the underground train that escorts congressmen from their offices to the Capitol.

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Saying bye to Em at her office, Hart Senate Office Building.

More of our D.C. trip to come.