Regarded by many as the finest example of classical architecture in Amercia, the U.S. Capitol - the building that houses the legislative branch of the American government - has its orogins in a competition devised by George Washington. The winning design, submitted by William Thornton, combined grandeur, simplicity and convenience . Construction began in 1793, with English architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe brought in in 1803 to oversee the work, which was completed under Charles Bulfinch in 1829. This illustrated book offers a detailed description of the exterior and interior features of the building, its ornamentation and the richness of of its rooms.