VOA慢速英语2018--美国国会大厦简史

Built, Burned, Bakery: A Short History of the US Capitol Building

The United States Capitol is one of the most famous buildings in Washington.

The Capitol building is also one of the best-known symbols of the U.S. government. And it has been around for almost as long.

The country’s first president, George Washington, set the cornerstone for the building in 1793. At the time, the country’s government was only about five years old. And the capital city was Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania.

But national leaders were preparing to move the capital to the District of Columbia. They identified a hill on which to build a new home for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The area around it was mostly grass, trees and water – in other words, a swamp. But the country’s leaders imagined that one day it would be crowded with people and buildings. And they were right.

A slow beginning, then a fire

Yet efforts to set up the Capitol building were slow. Several architects were asked to work on the project and later dismissed. The design of the building kept changing. Finally, lawmakers began meeting in one side in 1800, and in the other side in 1807. They passed from one side to the other on a wooden walkway.

Then, in 1814, British troops set fire to the Capitol building. Only rain from an unexpected storm put out the fire.

After the war with the British ended, workers made repairs and began to improve the building. They enclosed the center of the Capitol and added a dome¹ on top. It was made of wood and covered in copper².

As the nation grows, so does the Capitol

For some years, improvements to the Capitol were small: running water, then gas lighting³. But major changes to the country were taking place. New states were joining. The United States was expanding. And more lawmakers needed to meet in the Capitol.

By 1850, lawmakers agreed that the building was too small. Architects and builders set to work again. In time, they would double the length of the two sides of the Capitol. But the increase caused a new problem: now the dome looked too small.

However, the nation was facing more serious troubles. The southern states were threatening to withdraw from the Union. They objected to the power of the federal government, especially its efforts to control – or end – slavery.

By 1861, the country was fighting a civil war. Most work on the Capitol came to a stop. At times during the Civil War, the building served as a place for soldiers to sleep, a hospital, and even a place where baked goods were made.

But even before the war ended, then-President Abraham Lincoln urged that improvements to the Capitol be finished. He reportedly said if people saw work continue on the Capitol, they would accept that the Union would go on.

In 1863, a formerly⁴ enslaved man helped add a statue to the top of the new dome. Philip Reid was one of many enslaved workers who had built the Capitol. Over the years, they dug the stone, cut pieces of wood, and laid down the bricks, among other jobs. Reid was an expert in shaping metal. He was able to solve the problem of how to get a large statue out of its plaster cast so it could be forged. The figure, called the Statue of Freedom, still stands on top of the Capitol’s white, iron dome.

Modernization⁵

The Civil War ended in 1865. As Lincoln hoped, the Union continued. And the Capitol building was slowly modernized⁶. Elevators, electric lighting, and more rooms were added.

In the 20th century, the Capitol was equipped with televisions, computers, and a voting machine. And a large visitor center was added so the public can learn more about its history.

Today, the area around the Capitol is completely different than it was in 1793. Washington, D.C. is now a major city. And other government buildings stand near the Capitol. They include the U.S. Supreme⁷ Court, the Library of Congress, and even the Voice of America.

But the Capitol remains⁸ the seat of U.S. lawmaking, and a well-known symbol of the federal government.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

symbol - n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality

swamp - n. land that is always wet and often partly covered with water

architect - n. a person who designs buildings

dome - n. a large rounded roof or ceiling that is shaped like half of a ball

brick - n. a small, hard block of baked clay that is used to build structures

cast - n. a hard covering

forge - v. to form something by heating and shaping metal

elevator - n. a machine used for carrying people and things to different levels in a building

1 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

2 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

3 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

4 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

5 modernization   

n.现代化，现代化的事物

参考例句：

• This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
• The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。

6 modernized   

使现代化，使适应现代需要( modernize的过去式和过去分词 )； 现代化，使用现代方法

参考例句：

• By 1985 the entire railway network will have been modernized. 等到1985年整个铁路网就实现现代化了。
• He set about rebuilding France, and made it into a brilliant-looking modernized imperialism. 他试图重建法国，使它成为一项表面华丽的现代化帝业。

7 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。