Vote AOC Employees for the 2022 Sammies People's Choice Award. Details.
Delve deeper into the stories behind the people, art, history and grounds.
History & Discoveries
Dancing by Dawn's Early Light
Did you know that the 15,000-pound bronze Statue of Freedom, standing atop the 9 million pounds of cast iron of the U.S. Capitol Dome, dances every day?
Behind the Scenes
U.S. Capitol Clean-up
Hear from a few employees about the incredible effort they and their teams put forward in the aftermath of the Capitol breach on January 6, 2021.
Behind the Scenes
By the Numbers: Presidential Inauguration 2021
Every four years Americans cast their vote for president in November and watch as the newly elected president takes the oath of office the following January. Architect of the Capitol (AOC) staff also spend these months preparing for the inauguration at the U.S. Capitol.
History & Discoveries
Honoring the U.S. Capitol Guides Buried in Congressional Cemetery
Several of the men who first led tours through the U.S. Capitol are buried in Congressional Cemetery. In December 2019, a group from the Capitol Visitor Center Social Committee gathered at the cemetery to place markers on the graves of these guides and learn more about their lives.
Behind the Scenes
Capitol Power Plant Employees Power Through the Pandemic
Showing Incredible Dedication in Uncertain Circumstances
Behind the Scenes
Cool Tools: "The Box"
What Began as a Demonstration for Kids Is Now a Unique Training Tool
Doing Good
U.S. Botanic Garden Helps Urban Agriculture Programs at 28 Public Gardens Affected by COVID-19
Access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Is All the More Important During the Pandemic
History & Discoveries
Benjamin Henry Latrobe's Capitol Contributions
The Second Architect's Neoclassical Style Made a Lasting Impact
Programs & Events
John Lewis' Lying in State: A New Normal
AOC Teams Adjusted to New Safety Protocols and Successfully Served This Unprecedented Event
Behind the Scenes
COVID-19 Cleaning Protocols
AOC Staff Put In the Work to Keep Us Safe During COVID-19
History & Discoveries
U.S. Botanic Garden at 200: Deeply Rooted, Branching Outward
For 200 years, the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) has been showcasing plants to visitors from around the globe. The USBG was originally proposed by George Washington to establish a place for Americans to learn about useful and engaging plants.
Behind the Scenes
Beyond the Dome – A Visit to the American College of the Building Arts
The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) mission cannot be fulfilled without its employees possessing the skills required to meet the AOC's deep commitment to maintaining the historic buildings of Capitol Hill.
Behind the Scenes
Before and After: Hearing Room Renovation for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
The Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction recently completed a project to restore the hearing room for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (SR-253) in the Russell Senate Office Building.
Behind the Scenes
Capitol Building Self-Inspections
The Architect of the Capitol continues to evaluate how best to keep our employees safe.
Doing Good
Capitol Visitor Center Employees Find Ways To Give
The coronavirus inspired many of us to wonder what, if anything, we could do to help when it seemed the needs around us were overwhelming. Two Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) employees found a way and are using their skills to make a difference as our communities fight the virus.
Projects
Continuous Care of the U.S. Capitol Roof
Like most beloved national treasures from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Statue of Liberty, the U.S. Capitol Building roof requires continuous care. Once a section has been replaced, it is regularly inspected as part of preventive maintenance.