U.S. Capitol Rotunda reopens after 14-month makeover

The U.S. Capitol welcomed eager visitors into the Rotunda Tuesday, signaling the completion of a 14-month restoration process to fix water leaks and more than 1,000 cracks in the dome’s ceiling.

“We are proud to welcome members of Congress, staff and the public back into this beautiful, hallowed space that is so important to our democracy,” Stephen Ayers, Architect of the Capitol, said in a statement Tuesday. “We appreciate the trust and support of the American people who believed in us to carefully restore one of the most recognized spaces in American history.”