Directly underneath the United States Capitol Rotunda lies the United States Capitol Crypt, a historically significant and architecturally important space.
The United States Capitol Crypt Explained
The Capitol Crypt is characterized as a large, circular room that prominently features forty neoclassical Doric columns. This foundational area is situated directly beneath the grand United States Capitol Rotunda.
The construction of the Capitol Crypt served two primary original purposes:
- Structural Support: Its foremost design objective was to provide critical support for the massive Rotunda above, ensuring the stability and integrity of one of the Capitol's most iconic features.
- Entrance to Washington's Tomb: The crypt was also conceived to function as an entrance to a planned tomb intended for George Washington. Although Washington's remains were never interred within the Capitol, this historical intention remains a significant aspect of the crypt's original design.
This space forms a crucial part of the Capitol building's structure and its rich historical narrative.
