Lisa Winfrey, age 13, of Andrews, N.C., for her question:

WHAT STATUE IS ON THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING?

An American doctor and amateur architect named William Thornton won the contest in 1792 when the United States federal government asked people to submit designs for a new Capitol Building. President George Washington laid the cornerstone for the new building in 1793 and seven years later, in 1800, Congress met in the new Capitol for the first time.

Standing on Capitol Hill in central Washington, D.C., is the impressive Capitol Building. This is where Congress meets, and it's also an important government office building which serves as the symbol of the United States.

Each year more than 10 million visitors come to the Capitol. They admire the impressive white marble building that uses the classical style of ancient Rome in its architecture. The building has a central section that features a huge cast iron dome.

The Capitol's dome is painted white to resemble the rest of the building's white marble exterior. And on top of the dome stands a statue. Measuring 19 1/2 feet tall. the statue is the figure of a woman who is wearing a headdress of eagle feathers and is holding a sword and shield. Called the Statue of Freedom, there's a distance of 300 feet from the top of the figure's head to the ground.

The beautiful Capitol has 540 rooms. Extending to the' north from the central section is the Senate wing. The Senate Chamber, where the Senate meets, includes visitors' galleries that are used when Congress is in session. To the south of the central dome is the House of Representatives wing.

Winning much attention from visitors is the Great Rotunda which forms the central part of the Capitol and is located below the Statue of Freedom. It measures more than 95 feet in diameter and is over 183 feet high. Funeral services for a number of distinguished Americans, including Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy, have taken place here.

In 1814, during the war of 1812, British troops set fire to the Capitol and burned it. A new dome was put on the building in 1863, and this is also the year when the Staute of Freedom was placed in its position of honor.

In 1962, a 33 foot extension was added to the eastern side of the Capitol's central section.

Near the rotunda on the side leading to the chamber of the House of Representatives is located the famous Statuary Hall. For 50 years, before a new chamber was built, this room is where the House of Representatives met. In 1864, Congress authorized the President to invite each state to send two marble or bronze statues to be displayed in the Capitol. Most are now on display in the beautiful Statuary Hall.