The United States Capitol Building, meeting chambers of the Senate and The House of Representatives, is the most recognizable historic building in Washington DC. The prominent landmark, located just opposite the end of the National Hall from Washington Monument, is an impressive example of 19th century Neoclassical architecture.
The Capitol Building is a massive building with 540 rooms divided among 5 levels. The ground floor is allocated to Congressional offices while the 2nd holds the chambers of the House of Representatives in South Wing and Senate in North Wing. The 3rd floor is where visitors can watch the proceedings of congress when in session. The additional offices and machinery room occupy the 4th floor and basement.
Under the dome in the center of The Capitol Building is the Rotunda, a circular space that serves as a gallery of paintings and sculpture of American historical figures and events.
In additional to The Capital Building, there are 6 congressional office buildings including Supreme Court Building and 3 Library of Congress Buildings that make up the Capitol Hill.
The Town Planner, Pierre L'Enfant, a French born urban designer when began to develop the basic plan for this new Federal City in 1791, choose to locate the Congress House on the crest of the Hill facing the city.
The Capitol Hill, the political center of the nation's capital is the most prestigious address in Washington DC. It rises near the center of DC , setting up at the top of a hill, overlooking the National Hall.
Today, The Capitol Hill neighborhood straddles two quadrants of the city southeast and northeast and a large portion is now designated as the Capitol Hill's Historic District.
There are 59 inner-city parks in The Capitol Hill neighborhood and most of them cover only less than an acre of land.
The Capitol Hill is the largest historic residential neighborhood in DC that stretching easterly in front of United States Capital along the wide avenue, and has been considered as one of the oldest living communities in Washington and most densely populated area with about 35,000 people under 5 sq.meter of land.
The park in Capitol Hill
The residents of The Capitol Hill are mostly the members of congress and their staff, lobbyists, journalists and people who can afford the steep prices of real estate here. The United States Congress has ultimate authority over the district.
Marine Barracks is one of the city's oldest commercial corridors dating to the late 18th century and has been recently revitalized.
Pennsylvania Avenue, the American Main Street, is one of the earliest street laid out by the city planner to construct in this Federal City. It runs a total of about 9km in which the 2km that joining White House to The Capitol Hill is the most important. It is the location for official procession, parades and protest marches.
DC with many of its 19th to 20th century row houses are listed in the National Register of Historic places.
The Jefferson Memorial and the 169m high Washington Monument which till today still is the highest elevation in the capital of United States.
A corner at Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Most of these small food store along the streets, are selling only drinks, hotdogs and pretzel, a very famous snack in United States.
The Government office blocks.
Museum of African Arts.
Smithsonian Institution is an education foundation chartered by congress in year 1846 that maintains most of the nation's official museums and galleries in DC .
The Smithsonian Institution operates 19 museums and the national zoo, all free to the public.
The US Government partially funds Smithsonian Institution making its collections opened to the public free of charge.
The most visited museum from Smithsonian Institution are its Air and Space Museum at National Hall.
The little beautiful garden inside building of Smithsonian Institution.
Sackler and Freer Galleries focus on Asian Art and culture.
Buddha images.
Some of the historic artifacts from China.
Collection of ancient Chinese calligraphy and poems.
The ancient hair accessories of royal ladies from the palace, were decorated with precious metal and stones like gold, turquoises and jade.
Potomac River in dusk.
Falls foliage in Falls Church where I stayed.
The office blocks in falls church amidst in nature.
The park at Falls Church.
The residential condominium at Falls Church.
Reston in falls. Reston is a town at Northern Virginia, 20-30 minutes drive to DC metropolitan area.
Leaves started to drop off in November.
October Beer Fest in Vienna , a county in DC metropolitan area.
There are many stores along the street and participants were entertained with bands and also this special long trump from Switzerland.
Food stalls.
