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Behind the Scenes

Article

A Legacy of Service

By Sharon Gang
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You never forget your first real job. A good one, with a good mentor, can ingrain work habits that will be carried with you throughout your career. My first job after college was on Capitol Hill working as a staff assistant for then-Rep. Daniel K. Akaka. At the end of the 112th Congress, now-Senator
History & Discoveries

Article

Deciphering the Calendar Stone in the Capitol Rotunda

By Matt Guilfoyle
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Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) Matt Guilfoyle investigates the myth of the Mayan Calendar at the U.S. Capitol. The Mayan Calendar has drawn a lot of attention lately, largely surrounded by myth and misunderstanding. It has even drawn focus to a lesser-known image in " The Frieze of American
Programs & Events

Article

Nearly Nine Million Visitors Later

By Sharon Gang
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December 2 has been an important anniversary at the U.S. Capitol since 1863 when the final section of the Statue of Freedom was installed atop the dome. The accomplishment was heralded by gun salutes from the forts that ringed Washington. Since 2008, however, December 2 has signified another
History & Discoveries

Article

Capturing Bartholdi Fountain

By Curator Division
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I took this photo of Bartholdi Fountain just after it returned from its recent restoration in 2011. The fountain had been off site for more than two years so this photo would help reintroduce this stunning sculpture to the world. One of the key elements of the restoration was restoring the glass
Close-up detail of Abraham Lincoln's statue in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
History & Discoveries

Article

Lincoln and the Capitol

By Matt Guilfoyle
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One of the greatest privileges of working for the Architect of the Capitol is knowing we have our hands on history everyday and we are afforded the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the giants of America's past. Perhaps no other person looms larger in that history than Abraham Lincoln. The
Programs & Events

Article

Capturing Autumn

By Michael Dunn
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Michael Dunn, Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) chief of photography, draws upon his many years of experience to share tips for photographing the U.S. Capitol Grounds in fall.
The Capitol Dome at night, as seen behind one of the East Front Olmsted fountains.
Behind the Scenes

Article

While You Were Sleeping – AOC Masons at Work

By Lori Taylor
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Masons working at the Architect of the Capitol get the campus ready for another day before the rest of the employees on Capitol Hill even wake. They have a small window of time very early in the day to complete any tasks that may interfere with visitors or the work of staff.
Behind the Scenes

Article

The Accessible Capitol Visitor Center

By Sharon Gang
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Although my disability from knee surgery is temporary, it has given me the opportunity to see Capitol Hill from a different perspective. Never have I appreciated the Capitol's consistently functioning escalators and elevators more than over the past month. From the elevators that take me from the
Crowd in stands.
Behind the Scenes

Article

One Team, One Mission, One Day

By Sharon Gang
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Presidential inaugural ceremonies at the United States Capitol take a team effort to pull together, and planning for the event begins as soon as the previous Inauguration ends. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Architect of the Capitol's role in this event.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Saving Life & Limb: AOC Arborists

By Franklin Bradley
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Year round, I often notice Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employees perched high in the trees above. I love the large, beautiful trees across Capitol Hill—they are longest standing witnesses of the history of this campus, from the burning of the Capitol by the British to the sculpting of the current
Behind the Scenes

Article

Master Illusionists of Capitol Hill

By Matt Guilfoyle
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Turning wood into marble, metal into wood, one dimensional into three dimensional; these are all "tricks" of the trade for the painters of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). "We make a lot of things look like something they are not," said Cori Wright, assistant supervisor painter and decorator for
Drawing of a room full of people.
History & Discoveries

Article

Path to Capitol During the Civil War

By Matt Guilfoyle
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As a professional commuter, every day I enter my "bubble" – looking at my phone, listening to music, reading my Kindle – as I travel from my home in Bristow, Virginia, to my office at the U.S. Capitol. It is easy to forget to look-up and appreciate that in a single morning commute on the Virginia
People standing around a bust.
History & Discoveries

Article

Meeting a Capitol Artist

By Sharon Gang
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Two new bookmarks I worked on for the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) celebrate Constantino Brumidi, the artist who painted the Apotheosis of Washington in the eye of the Capitol Rotunda and murals throughout the Capitol. I brought a few to my Mom, who is an accomplished artist, and encouraged her to
Exterior view of a building.
Behind the Scenes

Article

In Pictures: A Green Roof Comes Alive

By Curator Division
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In 2011, the 7,200 square foot middle section of the Dirksen Senate Office Building roof was replaced with a green roof. What had previously been an unusable outdoor tennis court was transformed by plantings called sedums, which is a drought-resistant plant that stays green all year long. Installing
Photo of a person lying on a desk.
History & Discoveries

Article

AOC Trailblazer: Georgia Shaw

By Kristen Frederick
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I learned of Georgia Shaw's amazing story when her daughter, Rebecca Shaw, reached out to us on the Architect of the Capitol's Facebook page. I was immediately intrigued when Rebecca said that the AOC logo had been put on Georgia's memorial plaque after she died. What I discovered, however, is that
Person wearing a bike helmet in front of the U.S. Capitol.
Doing Good

Article

Doing Good: Riding and Raising for Research and Treatment

By Kristen Frederick
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1 bike. 2 days. 190 miles. More than $11,000. Like many people, Franklin Bradley's life has been touched by cancer. When he was 16 years old, his father, Loren Bradley, died of a brain tumor. Franklin's uncle also passed away after battling mesothelioma (cancer that originates in the lining of
Group of four people.
Doing Good

Article

Discovering the Joys of Teaching — and Learning

By Kristen Frederick
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"Hey, AOC Lady!" Greetings such as these ring out at Phelps Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) High School in Northeast Washington, D.C., whenever Mary Jean Pajak, management analyst for AOC's Business Transformation Division, comes to visit. Her efforts have resulted in the AOC being
Painting of people in a room.
History & Discoveries

Article

Presidents in Art

By Curator Division
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Hardly a week goes by in which a visitor touring the Capitol doesn't ask one of the Visitor Services staff, "Where does the president sleep?" The Capitol is, to be sure, a large, white, monumental structure in Washington, D.C., but it is not the president's residence. The Capitol and the White House
People working on a tree.
Programs & Events

Article

A Holiday Tradition: AOC Trims the Tree

By Lori Taylor
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The hanging of the Capitol Christmas Tree lights is the job of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Capitol Grounds Division. "When the lights of the Capitol Christmas Tree are finally turned on, everyone has that 'ahh' moment," says Tree Surgeon Supervisor George Rollins. Rollins has served with the
AOC Industrial Mechanics Jeff Weiskott and Derek Matthews
Behind the Scenes

Article

Industrial Mechanics: Behind the Scenes, but not Waiting in the Wings

By Franklin Bradley
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Equivalent in size to six Empire State Buildings, the buildings of the U.S. Congress and Supreme Court must be operational at all times to ensure the continuity of our democracy. Maintaining them at the highest level possible demands the best effort of the employees of the Architect of the Capitol
Person standing using a water sprayer.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Set in Stone—How the AOC Honors Historic Preservation

By Kristen Frederick
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As the saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day," and neither was the U.S. Capitol and its surrounding buildings and grounds. Since Congress first met in the Capitol in 1800, the building has undergone dramatic expansion as the size of the nation has increased. In the center of it all is the U.S
Group of people standing with statues.
Behind the Scenes

Article

A New Home for a Capitol Treasure

By Kristen Frederick
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It took both brawn and brains to move a beautiful (and hefty) treasure when the Magna Carta display was moved from the Capitol Rotunda to its new home in the Capitol Crypt. In August, the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) Capitol Building Mason Shop, with the support of a rigging company, spent 14 ½
Black and white photo of the Capitol Power Plant's interior.
History & Discoveries

Article

Capitol Power Plant: A Century of Service

By AOC Staff
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The Capitol Power Plant has undergone significant changes as new buildings were built, and more modern and efficient equipment was installed, but what hasn't changed is the commitment of the staff. The plant's staff are highly-skilled and extremely dedicated — many have worked there for decades.
Russell Senate Office Building 2010
Projects

Article

100 Year-Old Russell Senate Office Building: Getting Some "Work Done"

By AOC Staff
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The Russell Senate Office Building is looking really good for its age but, to keep it in tip-top condition, the Architect of the Capitol spent some time studying the building's exterior in preparation to clean, repair and restore the exterior envelope of this historic building.
Two people crouching.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Dome Keepers

By Matt Guilfoyle
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Since that time nearly 150 years ago, while the Union was restored, multiple forces have been unrelenting in their attack on the Capitol—time, weather, and nature. Today, a small unit of men has the task of protecting and preserving this most important American icon. Led by Bryan Glotfelty and