The US Congress Building is commonly referred to as the Capitol. It is located in Washington, D.C., and is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. The building was designed by William Thornton and completed in 1800. It has been expanded and renovated several times since then, most recently in 1958. The Capitol is a symbol of American democracy and is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.