Displaying 301 - 321 of 321 Clear

Behind the Scenes

Article

The Accessible Capitol Visitor Center

By Sharon Gang
| October 9, 2012
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
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
| September 3, 2019
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.
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
| May 21, 2019
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?
United States Supreme Court Building
Behind the Scenes

Article

A Woman's Perspective: Turning Challenges into Opportunities and Personal Growth

By Deatra Trinidad
| March 8, 2017
The AOC's Deputy Facility Manager at the United States Supreme Court Building began her engineering career path from a love of roller coasters. Now, in an effort to give back to the community, she volunteers with school robotics competitions and at STEM type expositions.
Tholos Magazine, Volume 15, Special Edition.
Public Notice

Article

Special Issue of Tholos Magazine Now Available

By AOC Staff
| October 22, 2020
AOC Employees Have Gone Above and Beyond During the Pandemic
Tholos Magazine, Volume 18, Special Edition.
Public Notice

Article

Special Issue of Tholos Magazine Now Available

By Sarah Davis
| March 4, 2021
A new special edition of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employee magazine, Tholos, is now available. Since January 6, 2021, we have received thousands of letters and emails from grateful citizens all across the country, thanking our staff for their efforts on that day and every day. Even at a
One of the four Olmsted lanterns on the west side of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, restored in 2020.
Projects

Article

Olmsted Lanterns Restoration

By Kate Holder
| February 4, 2021
The large bronze and glass lanterns are mounted on stately sandstone piers with intricately carved sandstone caps.
Tholos Magazine, Volume 17.
Public Notice

Article

Winter 2021 Issue of Tholos Magazine Now Available

By AOC Staff
| January 25, 2021
Article themes and highlights include Year in Review, A Look Back to 1800, AOC's organizational transformation and Spotlight on Safety.
Projects

Article

Crumbling Down and Building Up

By Matt Guilfoyle
| September 29, 2014
Addressing the stone pandemic across the Capitol campus takes a team of historic preservationists, structural engineers and stonemasons, among others.
History & Discoveries

Article

The Candy Desk

By Sharon Gang
| June 30, 2015
Few traditions associated with Senate furniture are as intriguing as the "candy desk" on the floor of the Senate Chamber. Although the desks on the Senate floor are cared for by the Senate, and not the Architect of the Capitol, they provide a fascinating story to share with friends. In 1965, Senator
History & Discoveries

Article

Haunted Halls of Congress: 5 Creepy Capitol Legends

By Erin Courtney
| October 21, 2016
Working on Capitol Hill you hear your fair share of myths, mysteries and folklore about the historic buildings and its previous (we think) inhabitants. Given that the Capitol was once expected to be the final resting place for George Washington, replete with a crypt, should we be surprised that
Ducklings using the special duck ramps at the Capitol Reflecting Pool.
History & Discoveries

Article

Three Quacks for Union Square Duck Ramps

By Erin Courtney
| May 15, 2017
Each spring, mallard ducks return to Union Square. The male calls and female quacks echo across the rippling water and bounce off the stately statue of General Ulysses S. Grant. Families, some waiting to enter the Botanic Garden, others out for an evening stroll, watch the majestic ducks swim across
A view of the renovated Bartholdi Park.
History & Discoveries

Article

Renovated Bartholdi Park is a SITE(S) to Behold

By Devin Dotson
| October 25, 2017
Bartholdi Park is a wonderful spot for eating lunch, finding a new favorite plant, enjoying a quiet moment and taking a break from a busy day. Originally created in 1932, the U.S. Botanic Garden's (USBG) Bartholdi Park had served as a changing home demonstration garden for more than 80 years, and
History & Discoveries

Article

New Perspective, New Discoveries: A Close-up Look at Crawford's Progress of Civilization

By Michele Cohen, Ph.D.
| September 28, 2016
Since 1863, Thomas Crawford's marble sculptural group Progress of Civilization has stood in the pediment above the Senate doors on the East Front of the Capitol. Its details have always been difficult to see from the ground, but the scaffold erected for the recent stone restoration project has
History & Discoveries

Article

Top 5 Spots to Enjoy Spring on Capitol Grounds

By Lori Taylor
| April 8, 2013
Spring in Washington, D.C. is one of the most beautiful times to visit the nation's capital; it is also the busiest. The warmer weather and blooming of plants makes Capitol Hill picturesque and inviting. One of the most popular attractions in the city are the beautiful cherry blossoms on the Tidal
A bowler hat discovered during the renewal of the Cannon House Office Building.
History & Discoveries

Article

Cool Cannon Construction Finds

By Kristen Frederick
| January 3, 2019
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 Cannon Renewal project
View of the U.S. Capitol during Sunrise in January 2019.
Behind the Scenes

Article

U.S. Capitol Clean-up

By AOC Staff
| January 15, 2021
The events of January 6 left most of the nation at a standstill, but Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employees immediately went to work, restoring the building and grounds to their proper condition so that Congress could safely reconvene and inaugural preparations could get back on track.
AGA Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting
Public Notice

Article

A Decade of Excellence – AOC Receives Award for 10th Year in a Row

By AOC Staff
| May 28, 2021
For the tenth consecutive year, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) received the Association of Government Accountants' (AGA) prestigious Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR) for its Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR).
History & Discoveries

Article

Meigs' Miniatures: The Story of the Tiny Doors in the U.S. Capitol

By Erin Nelson
| July 14, 2016
Throughout the Capitol Building, visitors and staff often pause to imagine what is behind the building's smallest doors. Their guesses are as varied as the architectural details that encompass the Capitol campus. The correct explanation for their existence begins with a fire on Christmas Eve 1851
Floor tile at the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.
Behind the Scenes

Article

The Art of Walking Across History

By Cristin O'Brien
| June 1, 2018
Awareness of your surroundings can help prevent a slip, trip or fall — you might also spot some amazing things. I live with a two year old. Jumping, climbing and dancing are skills practiced in abundance — picking up toys is not. I will regularly find a dump truck parked on the stairs, a stuffed owl
Behind the Scenes

Article

Keeping Your Cool at the Capitol

By Burl Keller
| July 6, 2016
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, stay alert for signs that you, a colleague or a loved one is too hot. Visitors shade themselves from the summer sun with