The Washington critic., 1886-06-17
TIE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects of Interest in and About the
National Capital.
TEE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares. Statues, Gardens and
Other Points of Attraction.
TEE WAY TO REACH THEN.

Washington is fast becoming the
most attractive city Of the country. AS
the Capital of the Nation 1t presents
more objects Of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and q
brief directory of its prominent points
will be of service to the vast number of
persons who annually resort to the po-
litical metropolis. For 1t is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay visit every year to this
city to behold the varied objects of in.
terest which so thickly stud the his.
toric "Ten Miles Square," or these
objects the most conspicuous are OF
course the Government buildings.
Chief among those is, first
The Capitol.
This great building Is the central point OF the
ridian OF Washington. The middle portion,
Immediately under the dome. is the part
first built. II was partially destroyed by the
by 1877. II incloses the "crypt"-where the
remains Of Washington were intended to be
placed, the Library. the Rotunda, the old
Se o hs SsSery
the Supreme Courtroom. The old Supreme
Courtroom, In the first story. is now occu-
pied by the Law Branch Of the Library.
The cornerstone of the Capitol extension
the north and south wings-was laid July 4,
1851, Daniel Webster delivering the oratiou
81 the occasion from the balcony OF the
Library. The south wing contains the
House. Of Representatives, and the north
wing the Senate Chamber. The rotunda Is dis
tinguished for Its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors, with their alto
reliefs. and for Brumdi's frescoings. In tho
Hall OF Statuary are the natural pictures In
Potomac marble, representing faces of Ger.
tain. American statcsmer-a picturesque
freak OF nature. From the little rotunda,
Immediately north of the great rotunda, the
winding way. From the top of the dome, or
as far as the visitor can ascend, the view
Of the surrounding, country Is magnificent.
The Capitol grounds; which formerly were
been transformed into beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely beauti.
full. The east base of the Capitol is 500
feet above ordinary low tide In the Potomac
The total height from east base to the top
of the temple covering the dome is 2SS feet;
the statue Of the Goddess Of Liberty, 10I1
feet, making the total height to the crest of
higher than the west gate of the grounds,
and 800 feet above low tide in the Potomac,
or 24s feet lower than the, apex of the Wash
ington Monument, which Is immediately
wide, and covers 3x acres. 1t is the finest
and largest public building in the world.
and In many respects the ccostliest and
handsomest. 1t Is moreover the growth of
less than century-a fact which adds to
its beauty and interest. The original Capt.
tol, or centre building, is an imitation,
though not slavlsh one, OF the Maison
Carree at Nismes. The view from the west
The public grounds and the lights Of the city
illuminate the darkness Is one of the most
beautiful and picturesque In the world and
Is well worth a journey of thousand miles
The White House.
From the west balcony Of the Capitol lookins
down Pennsylvania avenue, the Whltg
House is seen rearing its .snowy.hued walle
above the dense mass of opening that EN-
bowers y, like gigantic Gala lily sprinnging
up amid It's enfolding green blades. Were
itnot for the partly Intervening Treasury
building the view, Of the White House from
ths Capitol would be full and complete The
the Capitol is the center of "Down town. y
1t is beautifully located, the view from the
south windows covering the whole southern
up Sixteenth street west exhibits the best
part of the Northwest section to the gaze
The White House is q copy of the palace oil
the Duke of Leinster at Dublin. with the
addition of a large porch on the north front
which was added during Andrew Jackson's
administration. The reservation In which
1t stands embraces nearly 81 acres. The
main entrance is on the north, reached by
the Pennsylvania avenue cars. 1t Is two
stories high on the north, is built OF whit,
free-stone 100 feet long by Sc wide. 1t con
tains OH the first floor the famous Green
Red, Blue and East rooms the State Dining
Room and the great conservatories. Tht
Blue Room is the Presidents official recep
tion room and the drawing room of the ladie!
of his family. The East Room, original,
designed for banquet hall and so used al
late as 1887, and in the latter part of thu
century used Us n drying-room for clothes
by Mrs. President Adams, Is the largest ant
most noted room in the building. 1t Is 2
feet high, 40 feet long and 40 wlde. IL 4
open to visitors every day except Sundays
Upstairs are the Cabinet room. the private
Offices. the Presidents Office, the librar
and the family apartments. All thes
rooms except the latter are open to visitors
by special permission, at suitable hours.