Take a Ride With a Capitol Elevator Mechanic

Video Transcript

Elevator technicians in the past had no small task when it came to putting elevators in the Capitol. Since the Capitol was built in 1793, long before modern elevators were invented, engineers had to design a way to cut through the existing tile and marble flooring to build the elevator shafts.

These elevators in the Senate east front foyer are an example of this.

A lot of times my work requires me to get on top of an elevator for inspection and other maintenance and today I'm bringing you along with me.

Facing away from the elevator doors, you can see the decorative paint on the walls and columns have been cut into to build the elevator shaft.

Before the Architect of the Capitol implemented conservation procedures, artwork and architecture was hidden or destroyed in order to build elevator shafts.

An example is the marble and scagliola niche that once housed a bust of Vice President Calvin Coolidge. Scagliola is an Italian technique used to make plaster look like marble.

While still looking at the niche, you'll also see the elevators counterweight and its many cables pass by. The counterweight counterbalances the elevator moving in the opposite direction and providing a steady ride.

Now that the counterweight has passed, you'll see a lunette titled, "War," that depicts the Roman god, Mars. Mars represented military power as a way to secure peace and was considered the father of the Roman people. Many hypothesized that Mars was used to symbolize the role the United States would play around the world in helping establish democratic government through military action.

The lunette and the decorative painting that you've seen above was done by the artist Constantino Brumidi who worked in the U.S. Capitol from the 1860s into the 1870s. He depicted famous scenes and figures fromAmerican history as well as distinctive American flora and fauna.

As we end our ride today, remember that everything you've seen is maintained by the Architect of the Capitol. We are responsible for not only the maintenance of the elevators throughout the Capitol, but also the conservation of Brumidi works even those hidden in elevator shafts.