THE HILL

A detailed guide to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Spanning the time period from the Revolutionary War and George Washington’s placement of the cornerstone of the Capitol building in 1793 to the attack on January 6, 2021, and the presidency of Joe Biden, this book offers an in-depth look into how the Capitol as we know it came to be, how it functions, and who runs it, both politically and practically. Brower examines various “firsts” on the Hill, such as the first openly gay member of Congress and the first Hispanic American woman to serve in the House of Representatives. Other sections note the hypocrisy of the fact that the building, itself a monument to freedom, was built by enslaved people and the continuing unequal racial and gender representation in Congress. The information-heavy text is divided into three broad categories: “Places,” “People,” and “Perspective” (this last section highlights five notable dates). Text boxes with labels such as “Fun Fact” and “Did You Know?” offer additional context and help to alleviate reading fatigue. Photographs, historical newspaper clippings, paintings, and maps pair with humanizing anecdotes to create relevant connections and provide context while keeping the narrative flowing. The detailed table of contents makes this a useful reference for readers to find material for personal and educational uses.

Thorough and well paced: ideal for browsing or research.