Capitol South

Capitol South is a Washington Metro station located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., serving the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. The station is situated near the United States Capitol building, Supreme Court, and Library of Congress. It is also close to the National Mall, Smithsonian Institution, and National Museum of the American Indian. The station is named after its proximity to the United States Capitol and serves as a major transportation hub for commuters and tourists visiting the nation's capital, including the National Archives, National Gallery of Art, and United States Botanic Garden.

History

The Capitol South station was opened on July 1, 1977, as part of the Washington Metro system's initial construction phase, which included the Red Line and Blue Line segments. The station was designed by Chicago Transit Authority architect Harry Weese, who also designed the Washington Union Station and National Gallery of Art's West Building. The station's construction was overseen by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and was built using the cut-and-cover method, which involved excavating a trench and then covering it with a concrete slab, similar to the construction of the Boston Subway and New York City Subway. The station's opening was attended by Jimmy Carter, Tip O'Neill, and other dignitaries, including Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer.

Station layout

The Capitol South station features a single island platform with two tracks, similar to the Gallery Place and Metro Center stations. The platform is 600 feet (183 m) long and 22 feet (6.7 m) wide, with a mezzanine level above the platform that provides access to the station's entrances and exits, including the First Street SE entrance and C Street SE entrance. The station's architecture is characterized by its use of brutalist design elements, including exposed concrete and steel beams, similar to the FBI Academy and J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building. The station's design was influenced by the work of Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and features a public art installation by Michael Graves, who also designed the Portland Building and Denver Public Library.

Services and connections

The Capitol South station is served by the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines, which provide connections to other parts of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including Arlington, Virginia, Fairfax County, Virginia, and Prince George's County, Maryland. The station is also connected to the Metrorail system, which provides service to Dulles International Airport, Reagan National Airport, and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Additionally, the station is served by several Metrobus routes, including the 32 and 36 buses, which provide connections to other parts of the city, including Georgetown and Adams Morgan. The station is also within walking distance of the Union Station and L'Enfant Plaza stations, which provide connections to the MARC Train and VRE commuter rail systems, as well as the Amtrak and Greyhound Lines bus systems.

Nearby landmarks

The Capitol South station is located near several notable landmarks, including the United States Capitol building, Supreme Court, and Library of Congress. The station is also close to the National Mall, which features several iconic monuments and memorials, including the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and World War II Memorial. Other nearby landmarks include the National Museum of the American Indian, National Air and Space Museum, and United States Botanic Garden, as well as the Folger Shakespeare Library and Library of Congress's Thomas Jefferson Building. The station is also within walking distance of the Eastern Market and Barracks Row, which feature a variety of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions, including the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital and Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C..

In popular culture

The Capitol South station has been featured in several films and television shows, including The West Wing, House of Cards, and Veep. The station has also been the subject of several public art installations, including a murals project by Washington Project for the Arts and a sculpture installation by National Endowment for the Arts. The station's architecture has been praised by architecture critics, including Paul Goldberger and Robert Campbell, who have compared it to the work of Eero Saarinen and I.M. Pei. The station has also been recognized for its sustainability features, including its use of energy-efficient lighting and rainwater harvesting systems, similar to the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center.