The U.S. Capitol welcomed eager visitors into the Rotunda Tuesday, signaling the completion of a 14-month restoration process to fix water leaks and more than 1,000 cracks in the dome’s ceiling.
“We are proud to welcome members of Congress, staff and the public back into this beautiful, hallowed space that is so important to our democracy,” Stephen Ayers, Architect of the Capitol, said in a statement Tuesday. “We appreciate the trust and support of the American people who believed in us to carefully restore one of the most recognized spaces in American history.”
The Capitol Rotunda reopens today & tours including the Rotunda will be offered throughout the day pic.twitter.com/siNlaydlNl
— U.S. Capitol (@visitthecapitol) September 6, 2016
Since last July, the Architect of the Capitol’s office has worked to repair ironwork, update electrical and mechanical systems, install new lighting, remove hazardous materials and return the paint scheme to more historically accurate colors.
Although the inner dome’s restoration has been completed, the outer dome is close behind. Ayers called the reopening of the Rotunda a “milestone for our agency and the country at large.”
The 2 million visitors who visit the Capitol every year will now be allowed inside the dome. The Architect’s office is expected to complete the outer dome’s scaffolding removal in the coming weeks.
