Washington, D.C.
Below are photographs of National Historic Landmarks taken in Washington, D.C. during May 2011.
The National Historic Landmark Supreme Court of the United States of America. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Informally referred to as the High Court or the Temple of Justice, it has ultimate (but largely discretionary) appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases. The public façade of the Supreme Court Building is made of marble quarried from Vermont, and that of the non-public-facing courtyards, Georgian marble.
The Court consists of a chief justice and eight associate justices who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Once appointed, justices have life tenure unless they are removed after impeachment.The National Historic Landmark United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. Though not in the geographic center of the District of Columbia, the Capitol is the origin by which the quadrants of the District are divided. The United States Congress was established upon ratification of the United States Constitution and formally began on March 4, 1789.
The fresco named “The Apotheosis of Washington” in the eye of the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.
In the central group of the fresco George Washington is rising to the heavens in glory, flanked by thirteen dancing female figures representing the 13 colonies and two female figures representing Liberty and Victory/Fame. A rainbow arches at Washington’s feet, and thirteen maidens symbolizing the original states flank the three central figures. The word “apotheosis” in the title means literally the raising of a person to the rank of a god, or the glorification of a person as an ideal.
