United States Capitol

Washington, D.C.
USCapitol-53
Robert and Cheryl Deering in front of the United States Capitol
Photo: Ferdie Deering 1953
Photo Gallery
Completed: 1829
Architect: Dr. William Thornton
(Original Design)
Begun in 1793, the United States Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored. The Capitol that we see today is the result of several major periods of construction. A more complete chornology of the constroction history of the U. S. Capitol may be found at http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/capitol_construction.cfm.
ORIGIN OF NAME: The earliest known use of the name America dates from April 25, 1507. It appears on a globe and a large map created by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. An accompanying book, Cosmographiae Introductio, explains that the name was derived from the Latinized version of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci's name, Americus Vespucius, in its feminine form, America. Vespucci's role in the naming issue is unclear. Some sources say that he was unaware of the widespread use of his name to refer to the new landmass.

MOTTO: "E Pluribus Unum." Translated from Latin, it most closely means "Out of many, (is) One." or "From many, (comes) One."

PREAMBLE: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/capitol/index.html