The Capitol The history, art, and architecture of the U.S. Capitol from its opening in 1800 to the present were presented in a special 107-minute version of The Capitol. The documentary featured the impact of Presidents Washington and Jefferson on the Capitol’s creation, the grand public spaces, and areas off limits or rarely seen by the public, such as the top of the Capitol dome. The narrated segments, including tours of the building and interviews with members of Congress, historians, and curators, were recorded in high-quality video.