Cool Cannon Construction Finds

During the process of renewing the Cannon House Office Building, workers have found hidden treasures that had been lost or discarded by the laborers who constructed the building more than 100 years ago. Here's a small sampling of what has been discovered since the start of the project.

By Kristen Frederick | January 3, 2019

A bowler hat discovered during the renewal of the Cannon House Office Building.

Curators review the historic items that were found during the initial phase of the Cannon Renewal project.

House curator Farar Elliott and Architect of the Capitol curator Michele Cohen review the historic items that were found during the initial phase of the Cannon Renewal project.

Newspaper and bronze spout found during the Cannon Renewal project.

Newspapers and a spout.

Discarded and crumpled newspapers, some 100 years old, have been found behind the walls and in the ceilings.
Excavation in the east basement corridor led to the discovery of this bronze spout that was most likely used on a pipe connection.

Construction materials found during Phase 1 of the Cannon House Office Building renewal project.

Bottles found during Phase 1 of the Cannon House Office Building renewal project.

Construction materials and bottles.

Construction materials used during the original building construction in the early 1900s have been a common find.
Bottles of all shapes and sizes were found hidden behind walls during demolition.

A bowler hat.

Nestled in a first-floor crawlspace near the southwest elevators, an electrician discovered a bowler hat that may be from the days of the Cannon Building's original construction. Before the ubiquity of hard hats on construction sites, it was common for workers in the early 1900s to wear felt bowler hats.

Comments

Love this! Construction surprises are like hidden Easter eggs—except instead of chocolate, you get century‑old artifacts. The Cannon Building clearly has more stories tucked in its walls than a library. Thanks for sharing these discoveries; it makes history feel less dusty and more delightfully unexpected!