Christina Ross, age 14, of Dover, Del., for her question:
IS 'CAPITOL HILL REALLY A HILL?
Near the center of Washington, D.C., is Capitol Hill. It is indeed a hill and it rises 88 feet above the lower ground. On Capitol Hill stand a number of large government buildings.
The most important building standing on Capitol Hill is the United States Capitol. Also located there are congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court Building and the conservatory of the United States Botanic Garden.
In addition to the government buildings, two structures owned by private institutions are located on Capitol Hill: the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Museum of African Art.
The United States Capitol building is where the members of the Congress meet to discuss and vote on proposed legislation. The Capitol ranks among Washington's most magnificent buildings. Tall Corinthian columns and an enormous dome beautify its white marble exterior.
A bronze statue of Freedom 19 1/2 feet high stands on top of the dome. The Capitol, including the statue, rises almost 300 feet above the ground.
The Capitol has 540 rooms, many of them containing beautiful paintings, sculptures and wall carvings that portray events and persons important in American history.
Five congressional office buildings provide office space for the members of Congress on Capitol Hill. Two Senate office buildings are to the north of the Capitol and three House of Representatives office buildings are found south of the Capitol.
The Library of Congress, probably the largest library in the world, has three buildings, all east of the Capitol. The main building is a gray sandstone structure.
Also east of the Capitol is the Supreme Court Building. The white marble exterior resembles a Greek temple. The room where the justices hear cases is decorated with long, red drapes, copper gates and marble columns.
More than 10,000 kinds of plants are found at the United States Botanic Garden on the southwest side of Capitol Hill.
The Folger Shakespeare Library, east of the main Library of Congress building, houses the world's most important collection of works by and about William Shakespeare. Only scholars may use its materials. But the library displays rare books and manuscripts for public viewing.
The Museum of African Art is located on Capitol Hill about two blocks east of the Supreme Court It exhibits sculptures and other works of art that reflect African black culture. It also displays work by many black American artists.
The Capitol building's architecture follows the classical style of ancient Rome. A huge cast iron dome rests on the central section of the building. The dome's white painted surface resembles the white marble exterior of the rest of the Capitol.
The Great Rotunda, which forms the center of the Capitol, consists of the center area under the dome. It measures more than 95 feet in diameter and over 183 feet high.
The Senate wing of the Capitol extends to the north of the Great Rotunda while the House of Representatives wing extends to the south.