Delve deeper into the stories behind the people, art, history and grounds.
Projects
On average, July is the hottest month in Washington, D.C. Excessive heat can lead to sunburn, cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If you live on, work or visit Capitol Hill during the summer, stay alert for signs that you, a colleague or a loved one is too hot.
AOC's Capitol Grounds and Arboretum team cares for more than 4,500 trees that fill the U.S. Capitol Grounds with shade and shelter for wildlife and that frame the U.S. Capitol as part of Olmsted’s master plan.
A special tool helps our stone masons repair and replace the mortar in the low stone walls lining Capitol Square.
Every fall, the AOC begins preparing snow equipment, procuring rock salt and ice melt supplies, and reviewing the emergency and essential personnel snow response plans for the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Find out more about this work and fun facts, like the coldest area of the Capitol campus.
This passionate group of Architect of the Capitol employees aims to improve biking conditions around the U.S. Capitol campus in Washington, D.C. Recently, their efforts led to the League of American Bicyclists designating AOC as a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Business.
One person's small act of compassion can start a chain reaction of kindness. This doing good story is of an AOC woodcrafter supervisor who volunteers with an organization focused on providing physical, mental and emotional aid through its orphanage, school, health clinic in Kenya.
Volunteering at Phelps Architecture, Construction and Engineering High School in Washington, D.C., is an experience that continues to enrich lives. This story is of an AOC employee who had the opportunity to be mentored by professionals in the engineering field, and now gives back in a similar way.
The Architect of the Capitol maintains the facilities for the Library of Congress, and we actively work as ambassadors for energy reduction within the Library of Congress buildings, while helping maintain their invaluable and irreplaceable collection of more than 158 million items.
This year has been one of many great moments at the Architect of the Capitol and on Capitol Hill. As 2015 comes to a close, relive some of the highlights through our photos.
Just like us, plants need special care in the extreme heat. Follow these tips from the United States Botanic Garden, including finding your own location on U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) plant hardiness zones map, to help protect your plants during the hottest days of summer.
Whether you want inspiration and information for your garden, want to learn about the importance of pollinators or simply want to take a scenic nature walk steps from the U.S. Capitol — the U.S. Botanic Garden's National Garden in Washington, D.C., is a treasure for everyone.
AOC's partnership with So Others Might Eat (SOME) helps "empower people out of homelessness and poverty" with their Center for Employment Training.
Spring is the season of new beginnings when the Earth seems to come to life again. But it is the year-round planning, preparation and hard work of the Capitol Grounds team that ensures buds bloom, vibrant colors delight and fragrant flowers excite the senses on Capitol Hill.
Why change our clocks twice a year, spring forward and fall back? The idea of saving the daylight goes back centuries. The Capitol Visitor Center hosted a workshop to think about these issues and learn about Congress' role in time including the Standard Time Act of 1918 and the Uniform Time Act.