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Conditions of the U.S. Capitol's copper roof before replacement.
Projects

Article

Continuous Care of the U.S. Capitol Roof

By Laura Condeluci
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Like most beloved national treasures from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Statue of Liberty, the U.S. Capitol Building roof requires continuous care.
A five-pointed star was cut within seconds by the Architect of the Capitol Sheet Metal Shop.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Cool Tools: Plasma Cutting Machine, a Matter of Precision

By Kate Holder
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It generates temperatures of 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit or more and accelerates to nearly the speed of sound.
View of the Carson National Forest in New Mexico.
Programs & Events

Article

A Christmas Spruce from the Land of Enchantment

By Jim Kaufmann
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The Architect of the Capitol selects the annual U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in consultation with the United States Forest Service.
Close look at a door hinge in the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, patented Nov. 22, 1887.
Projects

Article

Fire Egress at the Library of Congress

By Erin Nelson
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The Architect of the Capitol's Construction Division with the support of the AOC Library Buildings and Grounds jurisdiction worked together to complete the Fire Door Improvements project.
This donated orchid adds to the rich heritage and importance of the U.S. Botanic Garden's collection.
Programs & Events

Article

U.S. Botanic Garden Orchids Gain 600 New Siblings

By Devin Dotson
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This newly donated collection — the second largest single donation in U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) history — adds to the rich heritage and importance of the USBG's orchid collection.
The tombstone of Colonel Charles De Witt. Born 1727 - Died Aug. 27, 1787. Patriot, statesman and leader in the revolution. Voting to ratify the Declaration of Independence.
History & Discoveries

Article

Charles De Witt: Founding Farmer, A Life of Service

By Franklin Bradley
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Colonel Charles De Witt's career extended far beyond his home county, including being named as delegate to the Continental Congress.
History & Discoveries

Article

Six Special Rooms by Brumidi

By Sarah Davis
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Beginning in 1855, Constantino Brumidi decorated many walls and ceilings in the U.S. Capitol, most prominently in the Capitol Rotunda and the corridors of the Senate wing.
Drawing and design for the Grant Memorial replica lamp posts.
Public Notice

Article

Lamp Posts Installed at Grant Memorial

By AOC Staff
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Eight bronze lamp posts were recently installed by the Architect of the Capitol on the marble pedestal of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington, D.C. These posts are replicas of fixtures first designed and installed by Edward Pearce Casey, the architect for the memorial's pedestal.
The Capitol Materials Cart being shown to visitors in Emancipation Hall.
Programs & Events

Article

Cool Tools: Capitol Materials Cart

By Erin Courtney
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The new U.S. Capitol Materials Cart Program showcases a variety of AOC trades, including masonry, sheet metal, paint and wood-crafting.
Section, Revised Dome Design for U.S. Capitol. Pen, Ink and watercolor by Thomas U. Walter, 1859.
History & Discoveries

Article

Dancing by Dawn's Early Light

By Franklin Bradley
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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?
The Blackjack painting discovered in the U.S. Capitol.
History & Discoveries

Article

Rediscovering Black Jack

By Erin Courtney
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During a recent renovation, members of the Architect of the Capitol uncovered a long-forgotten painting of the famous horse, Black Jack.
The artifacts in this photograph were passed down through the family of Brumidi's third wife and given to the Architect of the Capitol.
History & Discoveries

Article

Personal Artifacts of a Capitol Artist

By Curator Division
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Constantino Brumidi, born in Rome in 1805, was fully trained in classical and Renaissance painting techniques, including true fresco. He painted murals for Popes and princes and was considered one of the city's best artists. In 1852 he emigrated to the United States. In 1855, after painting a trial
Paul Miller (left) and Anderson Alleyne (right) are two AOC employees that embody its mission to serve, preserve and inspire.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Preparing for the Moment Opportunity Knocks

By Erin Nelson
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After 12 years of service with the Virginia Army National Guard and two tours in Iraq, Anderson Alleyne began his career with the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) in 2013. He was hired as a night shift laborer in the Capitol Building jurisdiction and was responsible for maintaining the building's
AOC employees test an underground utility locator on the West Front lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
Behind the Scenes

Article

We Dig Technology

By Erin Courtney
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There's a cool tool that enables the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to quickly respond to requests to dig on the U.S. Capitol grounds. It has eight receiving antennas making it easier for the person operating the locator to get a signal from buried utility lines as deep as 15 feet.
Restoring the windows of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Projects

Article

Preserving Historic Windows and Doors

By Kristen Frederick
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The preservation of the Cannon House Office Building's historic windows and doors allows the building to retain much of its original character and charm, while increasing the building's functionality for those who work and visit within its walls. Learn more about the process.
Close-up view of bronze door handle in the shape of a snake. Once part of the entrance to the U.S. Capitol's House chamber.
History & Discoveries

Article

Cast in a New Light: The Capitol Bronze Shop (1855-1859)

By Kate Holder
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At a critical time in the U.S. Capitol's evolution, there was a Capitol Bronze Shop established by Montgomery Meigs. From 1855 to 1859, the shop helped serve the needs of the Capitol Extension, a major expansion project to accommodate a growing Congress in Washington, D.C.
Senate Move Coordinator Bonnie Holod, who is also the supervisory architect in the Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction, works with Michael Gass and Paul Bosch, wood crafters with the Senate Wood Crafting Branch, to hang artwork in a senator's office.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Senate Office Moves

By Elizabeth Yoder
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Every two years, the Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction takes on one of its biggest responsibilities, the Senate election-year office moves.
AOC House Office Buildings employees work together to shrink wrap boxes, ensuring a safe move.
Behind the Scenes

Article

House Office Moves

By AOC Staff
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The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) House Office Buildings jurisdiction is heavily involved in the corresponding work — this includes overseeing the lottery process for suite selections to moving all of the affected offices.
A bowler hat discovered during the renewal of the Cannon House Office Building.
History & Discoveries

Article

Cool Cannon Construction Finds

By Kristen Frederick
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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.
The Cannon Building rotunda has been returned to its original appearance when the building opened in 1908.
Public Notice

Article

The Cannon Building's Refreshed Rotunda

By AOC Staff
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Phase 1 of the Cannon Renewal was recently completed and as members, staff and the public enter the Cannon House Office Building's historic rotunda, they will encounter something new — but it is actually something old. The rotunda has been returned to its original appearance when the building opened
Person working on a ceiling.
History & Discoveries

Article

Revealing a Tiled Treasure

By Kristen Frederick
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How a successful immigrant family left their mark on the U.S. Capitol campus, and Architect of the Capitol's work to clean and preserve a historic treasure: the Cannon House Office Building basement rotunda with a Guastavino tile vaulted ceiling intact as it was originally constructed in 1907.
Members of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum inspect a vehicle operating on the U.S. Capitol campus.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Reclaiming an Ordinary Day

By Erin Courtney
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It is easy to take for granted an ordinary day strolling across the beautiful landscaped grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Chirping birds, chittering squirrels, humming lawnmowers and the excited voices of children on their first visit to Washington, D.C., make up the soundtrack of the Capitol campus. In
AOC employees exemplify One Team, One Mission.
From the Architect

Article

Architect's Notebook: One of My Favorite Things

By Stephen T. Ayers
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While Architect's Notebook is often used to write about architectural features found on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., this time it's about Stephen Ayers' favorite and most important part of this organization: AOC employees! More specifically, their giving and generous spirit.
Participants and instructors after lunch at Eco City Farm.
Doing Good

Article

U.S. Botanic Garden Helps Veterans with Urban Farming

By Devin Dotson
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Armed to Urban Farm is a new program presented by the U.S. Botanic Garden and the National Center for Appropriate Technology to teach veterans about urban farming careers.
AOC Director of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum searches the Willamette National Forest in Oregon for the perfect U.S. Christmas Tree.
Programs & Events

Article

A 'Noble' Decision in Oregon: Selecting the Capitol Christmas Tree

By Jim Kaufmann
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The Architect of the Capitol selects the annual U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in consultation with the United States Forest Service.
"Declaration of Independence" scene from the Frieze of American History found in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
History & Discoveries

Article

Artfully Yours, John Adams

By Sarah Davis
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John Adams was born on October 30, 1735, in Massachusetts. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, a diplomat in Europe and would go on to become the first vice president, and second president, of the United States of America. Similar to many other Founding Fathers, Adams appears in several
Display of items harvested from the 2018 AOC victory gardens at the Library of Congress.
Public Notice

Article

Harvesting Hope: Continuing Our Tradition of Helping Others

By AOC Staff
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Building on the success of last year's War Garden project, the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) gardening team who care for the Library of Congress buildings and grounds, identified and, in some cases, created additional beds to grow vegetables on the U.S. Capitol campus. To view the team's handy
Behind the Scenes

Article

Making Heads Safer, One Bump Cap at a Time

By Cristin O'Brien
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Hard hats are designed to protect from falling objects, not bumps in narrow spaces. A bump cap resembles an elongated baseball cap with a short brim. Inside are squares of gray foam in a checkerboard pattern. This lightweight cap is the key to head protection in tight spaces at the U.S. Capitol.
Map of Washington, D.C., in 1861.
History & Discoveries

Article

Profile in History: Job W. Angus

By Franklin Bradley
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The night before his assassination, President Lincoln dreamed that he was standing in a ship under full sail, rapidly approaching an indefinite shore. He reported having this dream before every major event of his presidency. Although those dreams were surely symbolic, Lincoln entered and left
Members of the U.S. Botanic Garden and U.S. Green Building Council in Bartholdi Park with the SITES Gold Certification.
Public Notice

Article

Renovated Bartholdi Park Achieves SITES Gold Certification

By USBG Staff
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U.S. Botanic Garden's renovated Bartholdi Park showcases sustainable gardening, achieves SITES Gold certification The renovation of Bartholdi Park at the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is complete, and the new garden is a showcase of sustainable gardening. Created in 1932, Bartholdi Park has