United States Capitol At Night
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The west front of the United States Capitol.
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The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. Though not in the geographic center of the District of Columbia, the Capitol is the origin by which the quadrants of the District are divided. Officially, both the east and west sides of the Capitol are referred to as "fronts." Historically, however, only the east front of the building was intended for the arrival of visitors and dignitaries.
美国国会的办公大楼，建在一处海拔为83英尺的高地上，故名国会山。
美国人把国会大厦看做是民有、民治、民享政权的最高象征。美国参、众两院构成的国会就在这里举行会议，通常被视为华盛顿的象征。1793年华盛顿亲自为大厦奠基，南北战争爆发后，有人提议停建该大厦，林肯总统却坚持要将高280英尺的大圆顶造好。
整幢国会大厦是一座三层的平顶建筑，其中央是一座高高耸立的圆顶，也分三层。圆顶上还有一个小圆塔，塔顶直立着自由女神铜像。她头顶羽冠，右手持剑，左手扶盾，永远眺望东方太阳升起的地方。