Photos: U.S. Capitol dome restoration project

Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, center, accompanied by Architect of the Capitol staff, speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, to announce the successful completion of the U.S. Capitol Dome Restoration Project. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, to announce the successful completion of the U.S. Capitol Dome Restoration Project. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Iron pieces are displayed during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, to announce the successful completion of the U.S. Capitol Dome Restoration Project. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Iron pieces are displayed at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, to announce the successful completion of the U.S. Capitol Dome Restoration Project. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Architect of the Capitol staff attend a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, to announce the successful completion of the U.S. Capitol Dome Restoration Project. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Officials and media wait for the Capitol Project announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)

The Architect of the Capitol is in the final painting phase of the Dome Restoration Project. Other restoration work also continues. (Architect of the Capitol)

The Honorable Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP, Architect of the Capitol, joined members of the Dome Restoration team to attach the final restored ornament, a rosette, to the U.S. Capitol Dome. (Architect of the Capitol)

The restored rosette ornament installed (Architect of the Capitol)

The Honorable Stephen T. Ayers, Architect of the Capitol, holds the restored rosette ornament (Architect of the Capitol)

The final ornament to complete the Capitol dome's restoration, a rosette. (Architect of the Capitol) — The final ornament to complete the Capitol dome’s restoration, a rosette. (Architect of the Capitol)

The view of the Capitol on Oct. 19, 2016. (Architect of the Capitol)

A worker paints the floor during the Capitol Dome project. (Architect of the Capitol)

A worker paints the floor during the Capitol Dome project and has a view of the Washington Monument. (Architect of the Capitol)

Workmen prepare the floor during the final painting phase of the Dome Restoration Project. (Architect of the Capitol)

The floor of Capitol come before it was painted. (Architect of the Capitol)

Workmen are seen taking apart the scaffolding that has shrouded the Capitol Dome for two years as it received a multi-million dollar renovation to repair cracks, remove lead paint and restore the structure to its original splendor, in Washington, Monday, March 21, 2016. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) — Workmen are seen taking apart the scaffolding that has shrouded the Capitol Dome for two years as it received a multimillion dollar renovation to repair cracks, remove lead paint and restore the structure to its original splendor, in Washington, Monday, March 21, 2016. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

In 2015-2016, a full restoration of the Rotunda interior was completed. (Architect of the Capitol)

Workmen remove paint during an earlier phase of the restoration of the Capitol dome, in January 2016. (Architect of the Capitol)

View from the top. A workman carefully works above the U.S. Capitol grounds (Architect of the Capitol)

The Architect of the Capitol is in the final painting phase of the Dome Restoration Project. Other restoration work also continues. (Courtesy Architect of the Capitol)

The outside of the Capitol Dome is show before the final painting stages. (Architect of the Capitol)

A workman applies paint to the dome of the U.S. Capitol. (Architect of the Capitol)

Senate Historian Donald Ritchie holds an early photo of him on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 7, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ritchie is stepping down from his “front-row seat to the best show in town.” That is the tradition, scandal and scholarly debate of the United States Senate, which Ritchie has observed and written about for all four decades the Historical Office has existed. Ritchie holds a photo of himself outside on the top of the Capitol Dome from earlier in his career as Senate historian. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Shane Gallagher, construction manager for the Architect of the Capitol, stands under The Apotheosis of Washington, by Constantino Brumidi, done in 1865, as he gives a tour showing the renovation of the Capitol Dome on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. The Capitol Dome had a a three-year, $60 million repair project that’s come to completion with weeks to spare before the inauguration of President-elect Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Shane Gallagher, construction manager for the Architect of the Capitol, gives a tour showing the renovation of the Capitol Dome, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. The Capitol Dome had a a three-year, $60 million repair project that’s come to completion with weeks to spare before the inauguration of President-elect Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

AP Photo/Susan Walsh

A photojournalist gets a tour showing the renovation of the Capitol Dome, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. The Capitol Dome had a a three-year, $60 million repair project that’s come to completion with weeks to spare before the inauguration of President-elect Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Shane Gallagher, construction manager for the Architect of the Capitol, views The Apotheosis of Washington, by Constantino Brumidi, done in 1865, at the top of the Capitol Rotunda of Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. The Capitol Dome had a a three-year, $60 million repair project that’s come to completion with weeks to spare before the inauguration of President-elect Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Visitors tour the Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. The Capitol Dome had a a three-year, $60 million repair project that’s come to completion with weeks to spare before the inauguration of President-elect Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

AP Photo/Susan Walsh