Photo: Courtesy Architect 0f The Capital

By December, workers from Aulson Co. LLC. are expected to finish applying nearly 500 gal of paint and lots of caulk to the 288-ft-tall, cast-iron dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The dome, nearly 220 years old, most recently was restored in 1960 and repainted in 2002. Current work will protect the famous symbol of democracy until a more-ambitious overhaul, scheduled to take place within five years, during which workers will strip all the layers of paint and fully restore the icon, says Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers.