The Capitol dome is one step closer to completion after the restoration team reattached the final ornament to the building’s exterior Thursday.
“The rosette attached this morning was one of the first removed at the start of the U.S. Capitol Dome Restoration project,” said Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers in a Thursday statement. “Reattaching this ornament in its fully-restored form feels like coming full-circle on this project.”
The cast-iron dome reaches a heights of 288 feet and has a number of external decorations including acorns, grape clusters and flower petals that are not visible from the ground.
The approximately $60 million multi-year reconstruction project that started in early 2014 is scheduled to be completed by the presidential inauguration in January. The final touches include some painting and safety upgrades for areas accessible to visitors.
