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The Supreme Court Building Facts

The Supreme Court Building Facts
Even though the Supreme Court is a very important government branch, it took 146 years before it was given its own building. Construction began in 1932 and it was finished in 1935, and was built in Washington, D.C. It came in $94,000 under budget, and cost approximately $9 million. It is made of marble from Vermont, Georgia, Alabama and Italy. The Supreme Court Building has only one courtroom and it is used as the highest court in the entire United States.
Interesting The Supreme Court Building Facts:
The same architect who built the Woolworth building in New York also designed The Supreme Court Building, which was designed with a neoclassical architectural style.
The 24 columns that are located inside the courtroom are made from marble and imported from Italy.
The courtroom is lined with Spanish ivory-vein marble.
The Supreme Court Building has its very own police force.
At the front (west) of the building are the words: Equal Justice Under the Law. At the east side are the words: Justice, the Guardian of Liberty.
A 172 pound chunk of marble fell off the building and landed on the steps in 2005.
In 2002 a wild fox entered the Supreme Court Building and it took more than 24 hours for it to be caught.
The Supreme Court Building stands 92 feet tall. It is 385 feet from the front to the back and it is 304 feet wide.
On the ground floor of the Supreme Court Building there is a clerk's office, cafeteria and a gift shop.
The second floor holds the courtroom, The Great Hall, and all but one of the judge's chambers. One, the biggest one, is on the third floor.
The third floor holds the largest of the judge's chambers, the decision reporter's office, the reading room, the dining room, the legal office and the law clerk's offices.
On the fourth floor is the library and on the fifth floor is a basketball court and gym. The basement has a mailroom, and a parking garage.
The basketball court is named: The Highest Court in the Land.
In the courtroom there are images (friezes) of important lawgivers throughout history.
Moses' beard on his frieze covers up some of the words (Thou Shalt Not) of the Ten Commandments. Instead of Thou Shalt Not, some of the commandments say steal, kill and commit adultery.
The Supreme Court hears cases that have been undecided in lower courts, or cases that may have been unfair, and is supposed to ensure every person is guaranteed their constitutional rights.
The main entrance to the Supreme Court Building was closed to the public in 2010; the new entrance was moved to the ground-level doors at the plaza. However the main doors can still be used to exit.
The Supreme Court Building is closed to the public when the court is in session.
The Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson building is located next door.
The Supreme Court Building was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 4th, 1987, however it is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


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