The light in the dome of the Capitol Building Archives
The light in the dome of the Capitol Building
Q: When the light is on/off does that signify something? I can see the light from my apartment, e.g., it was on all night and went out for a while.
The lantern is lit when one or both houses of Congress meet in night session. Although there is not a legal requirement for the night lighting or a record of when the lighting began, it is believed that the practice started in about 1864, when members lived in boardinghouses and hotels near the Capitol.
"ยง 6.11 The Lantern and Flags," Congressional Deskbook 2005-2007, by Judy Schneider and Michael L. Koempel (2005).
In an email, Mike Koempel told us: "On Tuesday [December 13, 2005], the House recessed at 5:17 pm until 6:30 pm. The Senate in the meantime adjourned at 6:21 pm. So, there were nine minutes when the lantern would have been doused before the House reconvened and the lantern was re-lit."
More
- "The Capitol Dome," from the Architect of the Capitol
- "Temple of Liberty: Building the Capitol for a New Nation," online exhibit from The Library of Congress
- The United States Capitol Historical Society, Online Exhibits
- U.S. Capitol Virtual Tour, from the U.S. Senate web site
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December 17, 2005 12:57 PM Congress
