United States Capitol dome

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/united-states-capitol-dome

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was United States Capitol dome built?1855-1866
2. How tall is United States Capitol dome?288 feet
3. How heavy is United States Capitol dome?9.1 million pounds (4,100 metric tons)
4. What is the location?Washington, D.C
5. What is the builder?Janes, Fowler, Kirtland & Co. (fabricator and erector)
6. Why is the dome made of cast iron instead of stone?Cast iron lets the dome be much larger and stronger than stone would allow. It also lets the builders make a double‑shell design that keeps the dome safe and light.

Architect of the Capitol: The office responsible for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and preservation of the United States Capitol Building and its grounds.
Rotunda: A large, circular or oval space in a building, typically covered by a dome.
Oculus: A circular opening in the center of a dome or in a ceiling.
Fresco: A technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid, or wet lime plaster.