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Eugene

(61,592 posts)
Tue Nov 15, 2016, 09:59 PM Nov 2016

Years-long rehab of towering U.S. Capitol dome completed

Source: Reuters

U.S. | Tue Nov 15, 2016 | 7:44pm EST

Years-long rehab of towering U.S. Capitol dome completed

By Ian Simpson | WASHINGTON

The rebuilt cast-iron dome of the U.S. Capitol, a soaring symbol of national unity since the 19th century, was formally completed on Tuesday after a $60 million overhaul that included repairing more than 1,300 cracks and weak spots.

The project was the first complete rehabilitation of the 288-foot-tall (88-meter-tall) Civil War-era dome since 1960. It was finished in time for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20.

"It is the symbol of American democracy and a beacon of hope around the world, and we delivered," Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers said at a news conference.

The 150-year-old structure tops the home of the U.S. Congress and can be seen throughout the capital. The Capitol is a major tourist site, drawing thousands of visitors daily.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-districtofcolumbia-capitol-idUSKBN13A28T
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