Comments on: The Quick 10: 10 Facts About the U.S. Capitol Building

By: spazzy

spazzy — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:53:37 +0000

CONFUSION FILLS ME….

By: Chad

Chad — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:27:20 +0000

So I believe that there actually was a hole in the floor, and that it was sealed up, but no one has displayed a fact that states that there actually was an internal flame. Does anyone know if there was a keeper of the flame that actually guarded the flame? It is one thing for a hole to be in the floor, but another for it to contain an eternal flame.

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:28:14 +0000

@Mariyah – Uh, that’s because it’s not supposed to be. The book is fiction, not a historical source. It’s like how googling things doesn’t count as research, or how wikipedia doesn’t count as a real encyclopedia source.

I enjoyed the Lost Symbol (although a lot of the plot devices were ridiculous and the dialogue was occasionally rather painful). I don’t understand why people take Dan Brown’s books so seriously, since they’re meant to be fiction with some real history woven in, often inspiring the story. The number of specials about the Da Vinci code was astounding… apparently a lot of people are confused about the difference between “fiction” and “history.”

By: Mariyah

Mariyah — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:57:26 +0000

this is definitley not a source for school projects,reports, or to get essay facts on the U.S. Capitol Building! >:( >:( >:(

By: PAM

PAM — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:31:51 +0000

Well – Dan Brown’s book has prompted me to do some research – The Apotheosis of Washington, the statue of Washington dressed and posed as Zeus… Didn’t know these things were real or existed until reading the book.

By: andy

andy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:48:34 +0000

This will tell you aboput the hole Thomas http://uschscapitolhistory.uschs.org/tour/09.htm

By: Barb in MN

Barb in MN — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:51:27 +0000

have you found out whether or not there was indeed an eternal flame in the capitol rotunda at one time? i keep trying a google search but come up with inconclusive results.
thanks

By: joseph

joseph — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:35:28 +0000

I just got back from Washington and took all the tours, the whispering spot they told us was where Adams desk was and he would pretend to be asleep yet he would be listening to what was being said?
I have read all of Browns books this one got me in trouble with the guide,I asked about the flame and the guide first asked if I was reading the book, then kept telling everyone that their was no flame,and kept winking at me SO i need to known was their a flame?

By: Jake

Jake — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:38:48 +0000

According to “Picturesque Washington: pen and pencil sketches of its scenery, history …” (by Joseph West Moore published in 1884, and available on Google books) there was a flame in the crypt and there really was a “Keeper of the Crypt”. It also mentions a hole was planned in the capitol rotunda, but doesn’t say if it was built or not!

By: AAAKnight

AAAKnight — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:59:33 +0000

Even though Dan Brown made up some of those things, it doesn’t take away from the greatness of the story. It really makes you think, even if it is fiction. I feel like I’ve learned a lot with each book. If a book can make a non-reader (Harry Potter aside) read AND do research, then he’s doing something right.

I grew up going to church at least twice a week every week for 15 years, and I learned more from reading The DaVinci Code (and researching the facts) than I did in 15 years of eating stale goldfish crackers (communion for kids) and falling asleep in a pew.