The domed U.S. Capitol is recognized around the world as one of America's most iconic symbols, the forum for representative democracy, and the physical stage for the transfer of executive power. The building has been rebuilt and enlarged many times under the direction of the person serving as Architect of the Capitol. This official heads the agency (also called the Architect of the Capitol) tasked with preserving and upgrading the Capitol plus the government buildings and grounds of Capitol Hill.
Alan Hantman, who held the position from 1997 to 2007, shares insights into how the Capitol works as a physical space, who runs it, and how and why decisions are made about security. Hantman recounts memorable security threats, including the 1998 fatal shooting of two police officers and the evacuation of the Capitol on 9/11 as a hijacked airplane approached. He also describes how the tension between securing the building and opening it to the public drove the design and construction of the Capitol Visitor Center during his tenure. The project was the largest expansion of the Capitol ever, increasing its size by 70 percent.
Hantman’s book Under the Dome (Georgetown University Press) is available for purchase.
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