The Capitol and Architecture in DC

So today i was in the Capitol trying to deliver a package to the majority whip's office and another senator's office. It is sooo confusing! The Capitol,



as seen above, looks all innocent and easy to maneuver, all in marble, right? The House office buildings are easy, with signs everywhere, so the Capitol building should be too. Wrong! (The part about the Capitol building being made of marble I am unsure of, but I think that will be a next blog post cause its fascinating of what I have read so far.) oh an update of the building material of the Capitol from http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc76.htm.

*The 20th century has seen even further changes for the Capitol. Under the direction of J. George Stewart, the appointed Architect of the Capitol, the East front extension added 102 more rooms from 1959 to 1960. The stonework was also changed from sandstone to Georgia marble during the process. After a public protest at further plans to expand in the 1970s, the plans were dismissed and the vote went to restore, rather than enlarge, the West Front. Since then, primary emphasis has been on strengthening, renovating and preserving the building.*

Anyways, It is EXTREMELY CONFUSING inside there. There are corridors that twist and turn, dead ends, small alcoves that end at dead ends, elevators, stairs, random hallways tucked in the back and side of a hallway on any given floor, lots of CLOSED doors, tiny elevators, huge stairs, the Rotundas, the Crypt, tiny winding stairways....it could go on. And there are no placards stating where to go. You have to look at the numbers posted above the door but that is not a sure-fire way either. And they're obviously not going to post copies of the floor plans of the Senate or the most up-to-date blueprints. I think that they made it real confusing so, a) people can't find senator's offices easily and thus, can't bother/shoot them up. A confusing floor plan makes it hard for a person to remember how they got places. Also it serves to intimidate people, like foreign dignitaries, possibly. (I'm not singling foreign dignitaries out. They just happened to be my example) I have read though that the WHite house is made to feel intimidating and imposing and reeking of power to the unwary.

Needless to say, I was constantly asking the guards how to get places, and to their credit, they were really nice and helpful. I bet they have to memorize the floor plan or something when they get hired, cause it wouldn't do if the security got lost in the event of an emergency.

I bet all new members/senators/staffers/interns probably feel a bit intimidated/lost of the first day of the job in the Capitol.