 "What’s the Capitol Rotunda where US President Donald Trump was sworn in?")
Donald Trump’s inauguration as the President of the United States was held indoors in a packed Capitol Rotunda on Monday (January 20). The ceremony, which is usually organised on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, had to be moved indoors due to a forecast of severe cold.
As the oath ceremony was shifted inside, the crowd attending the inauguration was smaller than the hundreds of thousands of people who would have watched the event outside. This was the first time in 40 years that a US presidential inaugural ceremony was held indoors.
What is the Capitol Rotunda that is hosting Trump’s swearing-in as the 47th US president? We will explain.
‘Heart’ of the US Capitol
The Capitol Rotunda is a majestic room which is considered the “symbolic and physical heart” of the US Capitol.
Located beneath the Capitol dome, it was designed in the neoclassical style to emulate the ancient Roman temple, Pantheon.
Boasting sandstone walls that rise 48 feet above the floor and a cast-iron dome, the Capitol Rotunda houses historical paintings, sculptures, and frescos.
Dr William Thornton, the architect of the US Capitol, came up with the idea of a central rotunda in 1793. The construction of the room, however, did not begin until 1818 due to a crunch of funds and materials, irregular construction phases and the British burning of the Capitol during the War of 1812, according to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) website.
Between 1855 and 1866, Thomas U Walter extended the rotunda by adding a dome made of cast iron for fireproofing.
Charles Bulfinch, a prominent Boston architect completed the rotunda in 1824 before the visit of Marquis de Lafayette.
“Bulfinch created in the US Capitol Rotunda an ambitious orchestration of architecture, sculpture and painting,” says the AOC website.
Why Capitol Rotunda is important
The Capitol Rotunda is an architectural marvel that offers an ode to American history. It displays several historical paintings including John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence and General George Washington Resigning his Commission.
It also has busts of prominent figures, chiefly presidents, including Abraham Lincoln by Vinnie Ream and a copy of a statue of George Washington by Antoine Houdon.
The Frieze of American History, surrounding the upper rotunda, depicts significant events in American history, including the Landing of Columbus by John Vanderlyn, the Declaration of Independence, and the Wright brothers’ first flight.
The Apotheosis of Washington, a mesmerising fresco by Constantino Brumidi, suspends 180 feet above the rotunda floor. “The scenes designed by Brumidi trace America’s history from its discovery by Columbus to the discovery of gold in California, with emphasis on Spanish explorers and the Revolutionary War,” as per the AOC website.
The rotunda also matters as it is the site of several key ceremonial events such as state funerals and public gatherings authorised by the US Congress.
Trump’s inauguration in Capitol Rotunda
Trump’s swearing-in brought back focus on the Capitol Rotunda, a repository of US history.
“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” the Republican had said on the Truth Social platform on Friday. “Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda.”
Trump took the oath of office at 10.30 pm IST at the Capitol Rotunda, swearing to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution.
The rotunda, which spans just over 7,000 square feet, could house about a few hundred people for the inauguration of the 47th US president. Due to limited space, around 1,300 people were expected in Emancipation Hall and 500 more people in the theatre in the Capitol Visitor’s Center, CNN reported citing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
Trump’s inauguration moving inside meant many people were not able to watch the ceremony in person. While many VIPs jostled for seats in the US Capitol in the past few days, some business elites such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos were seated ahead of Trump’s incoming cabinet nominees in the rotunda.
Conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson bagged a front-row seat.
As Trump returns to the White House, the US is set for a rollercoaster ride.
With inputs from agencies
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