Stories
New & Noteworthy
Delve deeper into the stories behind the people, art, history and grounds that make up the Capitol.
Public Notice
AOC Offers Family Resources for Distance Learning and Virtual Visits
The Architect of the Capitol is delivering virtual Capitol experiences to those unable to visit because of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Resources for students and families learning from home are grouped into elementary, middle school and high school levels. There are also virtual field trips and online exhibits.
History & Discoveries
Olmsted's Never-Built Retreat
Before it was cut from the budget, Olmsted had begun designing a south summerhouse; his sketches for it have been rediscovered.
Public Notice
Volume 20 of Tholos Magazine Now Available
The latest edition of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employee magazine, Tholos, is now available. Articles include a feature on Frederick Law Olmsted’s never-built retreat, an employee highlight on interning during COVID, a spotlight on the agency's sustainability efforts and more.
History & Discoveries
The Architect of the Capitol Sweeps Up the Past
When Jim Kaufmann, Capitol Grounds and Arboretum Director, happened across an 1891 street-sweeping map while going through cultural landscape reports, he had no idea how simple an old map could make caring for the U.S. Capitol Grounds.
Behind the Scenes
Collecting and Growing Texas Native Plants for Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation
Throughout 2020 while the United States Botanic Garden was closed to the public, the Horticulture team continued stewarding its plant collection. Several Horticulture team members were paying special attention to a new batch of plants grown from seeds harvested during a plant-collecting trip to Texas.
