The United States Capitol is a symbol of the American people and their government, the meeting place of the nation's legislature. The building itself is an iconic landmark and a working office building. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Construction of the original building began in 1793, and it has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored since then. Today, it stands not only as a central point of political life in the U.S. but also as a museum of American art and history.