Originally the Capitol was supposed to be built by L'Enfant but he wouldn't give President Washington any sketches so he had to get rid of him. He was also difficult with the city planners The man who eventually designed it had no formal architectural training (Dr. William Thornton). He did have some help from the runner up Stephen Hallet because he really had no knowledge of how to execute the plan.
During the War of 1812 the Capitol was burned but wasn't completely destroyed. In 1827 the two wings were joined by a dome. In the 1850s with new states joining the Union they had to expand the wings even more. Right before the Civil War they began to replace the old dome but had to stop once the war began. Soldiers at this time even set up camp in the Capitol to protect DC. After assassinated, Lincoln was the first President to lie in state (about 30 people had the honor since him).
The visitor center we waited in is fairly new-- completed only last year. Before the center, people had to wait outside to tour the capitol.
