Supreme Court Building

The Supreme Court Building sits across the street from, and just east of, the Capitol Building. We visited it in the early morning before our Capitol tour. Due to time constraints, we weren't able to take a tour or even go inside, but I'm glad we took the time to stop and see the building's front facade.  

The building was finished in 1935. The architect based its design on Greece's Parthenon. The exterior is made of marble from Vermont and Georgia. The central figure above the 16 columns represents Liberty, with the figures of Order and Authority sitting on either side. The inscription reads "Equal Justice Under Law."

There were only a handful of people there, and it was nice to wander around without the crowds. While we were taking pictures, a homeless man carrying multiple bags of stuff wandered up to the building's steps. He stopped near one of the security guards and was talking to him for awhile. He wandered past us and we could hear him mumbling incoherently to himself. After he left, and once we got closer to the steps, the guard was laughing about the man and told Brian that the homeless and "crazies" seem to come out of the woodwork when the weather begins to warm up. 

The female sculpture sitting on the north end of the steps represents the Contemplation of Justice.

The male sculpture on the steps' south end symbolizes the Guardian or Authority of Law.

The Supreme Court existed for 145 years before it received a permanent home in this stately building.

You can read more about the building here.