Page 205 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

W ASHINGT ON , DC  203

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
Map E4. Independence Mall,
between 1st & 3rd Streets, &
Independence & Constitution
Aves (enter via the Capitol Visitor
Center). Tel (202) 224-3121,
recorded information: (202) 225-
6827. Open 8:30am– 4:30pm
Mon–Sat. Closed federal hols.
8 except Sun. 7 =
∑ visitthecapitol.gov
Transport
q Capitol S, Union Station.
@ 32, 34, 36, 96.

. Old Senate Chamber
This sumptuous chamber
was occupied by the US Capitol
. The Rotunda Senate until 1859, and then The Capitol also marks the
Completed in 1824, the 180-ft (55-m) by the Supreme Court for center of Washington, DC. The
Rotunda is capped by Apotheosis 75 years. It is now used city’s four quadrants radiate out
of Washington, a fresco by Brumidi. mainly as museum space. from the middle of the building.

3 US Supreme the US Capitol. Then, at Chief the Authority of the Law stand
Court Justice William Howard Taft’s beside the steps.
urging, Congress authorized The Great Hall that leads to
Map F4. 1st St between E Capitol St & a separate building to be the courtroom is an expanse of
Maryland Ave NE. Tel (202) 479-3211.
q Capitol S. Open 9am–4:30pm constructed. The result was a marble, lined with columns and
Mon–Fri. Closed federal hols. 7 magnificent Corinthian edifice the busts of former chief
Lectures: ∑ supremecourtus.gov designed by Cass Gilbert that justices. The elegant court
opened in 1935. Allegorical chamber itself has a coffered
The judicial branch of the US sculptures depicting the plaster ceiling decorated with
government and the highest Contemplation of Justice and gold leaf, and a frieze running
court in the land, the Supreme around the walls that depicts
Court is the last stop in the both real and allegorical legal
disposition of the nation’s legal figures. The exhibit hall has
disputes and issues of consti- displays on legal systems from
tutionality. Groundbreaking around the world and an array
cases settled here include of judges’ robes.
Brown v. Board of Education, Visitors may watch the court
which abolished racial in session from October
segregation in schools, and through April – check the
Miranda v. Arizona, which calendar on the website.
declared that crime suspects Admission is on a first-come,
were entitled to a lawyer before first-served basis. When the
they were interrogated. court is not in session, public
As recently as 1929, the lectures on the Supreme Court
Supreme Court was still The impressive Neo-Classical façade of the are held every hour on the half
meeting in various sections of US Supreme Court hour in the Courtroom.

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