Projects
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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.
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Programs & Events
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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.
History & Discoveries
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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.
Project
The Architect of the Capitol, in conjunction with the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, has completed a three-sequence restoration project to preserve the exterior envelope of the century-old building.
History & Discoveries
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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.
Public Notice
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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.
Programs & Events
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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.
History & Discoveries
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Did you know that the 15,000-pound bronze Statue of Freedom, standing atop the nine million pounds of cast iron of the U.S. Capitol Dome, dances every day?
History & Discoveries
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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.
History & Discoveries
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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
Behind the Scenes
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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
Behind the Scenes
Article
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.
Project
The stone was cleaned to remove general soil, black gypsum crusts, biological deposits and copper stains. The mortar and sealants in the joints of the marble were replaced and the non-functional bird deterrent system was replaced. General cleaning used low-pressure water and environmentally friendly
Projects
Article
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.
History & Discoveries
Article
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.
Project
The United States Botanic Garden and Architect of the Capitol have made improvements to provide a safe and accessible route from Bartholdi Park to the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial and upgrade the aging infrastructure of the historic Park.
History & Discoveries
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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.
Public Notice
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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
History & Discoveries
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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.
Behind the Scenes
Article
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
From the Architect
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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.
Doing Good
Article
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.
Programs & Events
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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.
History & Discoveries
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Similar to many other Founding Fathers, John Adams appears in several pieces of art throughout the United States Capitol. He played a large role in the Declaration of Independence, and art involving the signing of this document is where he can be found the most.
Project
A multi-phased project designed to address deferred maintenance, extend the life expectancy of the deteriorated stone and to replace missing elements of the U.S. Capitol Building.
Public Notice
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Building on the success of last year's War Garden project, an Architect of the Capitol (AOC) gardening team identified and, in some cases, created additional beds to grow vegetables on the U.S. Capitol campus. Crops harvested from AOC gardens will be donated to local food banks.
Project
Mountains and Clouds, installed in the Hart Senate Office Building Atrium in 1986, was the last work of Alexander Calder (1898-1976), one of America's greatest twentieth-century sculptors. This sculpture, his only work with a separate mobile and stabile, consists of four organically shaped clouds
Behind the Scenes
Article
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.
History & Discoveries
Article
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
Public Notice
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U.S. Botanic Garden and Green Business Certification Inc. proudly announce Bartholdi Park is SITES Gold certified, and is the first Washington, D.C., project certified under SITES version 2. SITES is the most comprehensive system for designing, developing and maintaining sustainable land.