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Triangle shaped sculpture.
History & Discoveries

Article

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

By Michele Cohen, Ph.D.
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We have made some interesting discoveries about the details of the sculptures and the sources of some of the depicted figures; we discovered and solved a few puzzles, and we also came across a few mysteries that we're still working on (and we'd welcome your help!).

Highlight

Thomas Edison Statue

By Sarah Davis
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This statue of Thomas Edison was given to the National Statuary Hall Collection by Ohio in 2016. Edison's statue replaced one of William Allen, which the state donated to the Collection in 1887.
Preservation Day graphic with multiple images in a collage.
Public Notice

Article

Preservation Day Celebration at the U.S. Capitol

By AOC Staff
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When the 89th United States Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, it changed the way America views, treats, and shares its history. Join us for a fun-filled observation of this anniversary, and learn how the "People's House" — the Capitol — is preserved for all! Architect
Group of people standing.
Public Notice

Article

Rotunda Reopens to the Public

By AOC Staff
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The Architect of the Capitol is pleased to reopen the U.S. Capitol's Rotunda following the successful completion of its restoration. Tradesmen and experts from historic preservation officers to engineers, craftsmen and painters worked day and night to restore this hallowed space.
Sculpture of three people.
History & Discoveries

Article

Letters and Numbers Abound

By Erin Courtney
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No matter where you look on Capitol Hill, numbers and letters abound. Passing three schools and multiple playgrounds on my way to work made me consider the variety of letters and numbers that appear on buildings or in art work on Capitol Hill. Considering the Capitol campus by the numbers (and

Highlight

America at Peace

By Sarah Davis
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This mural, painted during the Second World War, shows a vision of America at peace.
Exterior view of a building.

Project

Supreme Court Façade Restoration - West

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The building, designed by architect Cass Gilbert, was constructed between 1929 and 1935. The classically detailed exterior is clad with white Vermont Imperial Danby marble with bronze windows and ornamental bronze doors, railings and light fixtures. In December 2005, a modillion from the pediment
Up-close view of a statue's face.

Project

Statue of Freedom Conservation

By Lori Taylor
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The Statue of Freedom is regularly maintained to keep it in good condition.
Smokestacks, flowers, fountain.

Project

Cogeneration at the Capitol Power Plant

By Lori Taylor
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At the Capitol Power Plant we are planning for the future. Through rigorous analysis of various energy technologies and broad consultation with leading experts, we explored options for achieving future energy savings, reducing environmental impacts and maintaining a reliable source of chilled water
Sculpture detail of a person playing an instrument.
Projects

Article

Conserving the Grant Memorial

By Michele Cohen, Ph.D.
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The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington, D.C., is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Curator for the Architect of the Capitol describes the restoration work on the bronze components and marble pedestals. When completed viewers will again see the subtle details of the original sculpture.
A room with a portrait, chair and clock.
History & Discoveries

Article

Artfully Yours, Alexander Hamilton

By Erin Courtney
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BANG! With one shot, on July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Hamilton died the next day. Who is this Founding Father slayed by a fellow politician and today's ten-dollar man? Over the course of the last several months, the name Hamilton has been hot. Really hot
Person holding a copper pipe.
Behind the Scenes

Article

The Library's HVAC Aces

By Sarah Davis
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Just below the main floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress, the cellar level is home to the Architect of the Capitol's Air Conditioning (AC) Shop for Library Buildings and Grounds. A spectrum of parts and tools — from very small pieces to a 150 horsepower motor that weighs
History & Discoveries

Article

USBG National Garden Turns 10

By Devin Dotson
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This fall, the National Garden at the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) turns 10 years old. Opened to the public on October 1, 2006, the National Garden is a key element of the USBG, along with the Conservatory and Bartholdi Park. The National Garden's Rose Garden celebrates the national floral
Hand using equipment.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Cool Tools: On the Cutting Edge

By Lisa Maltbie
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Every one of us at the Architect of the Capitol, in every job we do, uses tools to serve, preserve and inspire. Many of the tools we use here are unique, historic and essential to our mission—in other words, they are cool tools! We asked employees to submit their coolest tool, and this feature
Doing Good

Article

Bridging the Gap

By Erin Nelson
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Millions of Americans volunteer every year, but few feel compelled to form their own organization. Greg Smith saw a problem in his community that had no solution, so he created one by starting his own non-profit – Kaizen Life Skills. Kaizen is a Japanese word that means continuous improvement, and
Painted portrait of George M. White, FAIA, Ninth Architect of the Capitol.

Person

George M. White, FAIA

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Appointed January 27, 1971; Retired November 21, 1995. George M. White, FAIA, was appointed Architect of the Capitol in 1971. He was the last person to be appointed without the advice and consent of the United States Senate to a term of unspecified duration. As Architect of the Capitol, White
From the Architect

Article

Architect's Notebook: Influences at Work and Play

By Stephen T. Ayers
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Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers reflects on influences in his work, and the work of others, at the U.S. Capitol. We are all an assembly of parts, pieces and life experiences, and we bring those experiences to the things we do every day. It's what makes us who we are! I've come to learn
Behind the Scenes

Article

One Team, One Energy Reduction Mission

By Laura Condeluci
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The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) achieved an extraordinary goal at the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 — successfully meeting the mandate to reduce energy consumption more than 30 percent from our 2003 baseline. This 30 percent reduction is a major accomplishment on its own. But it's even more
History & Discoveries

Article

Finding a Lasting Impression

By Sarah Davis
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Montgomery C. Meigs played a critical role in building a number of well-known landmarks in D.C. To ensure his credit would be preserved in history, Meigs was notorious for seizing opportunities to get his name inscribed on any items related to these monumental projects that he could. Meigs' name on
Behind the Scenes

Article

A Passion for Pedaling

By Jamie Herr
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In 2014, Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers stood before a large group of bicycle enthusiasts to accept a Bicycle Friendly Business Honorable Mention Award from the League of American Bicyclists. In his speech he challenged his staff to get the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) designated as a
Programs & Events

Article

Lend Me Your Ears

By Andrew Dentamaro
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"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." ― Plato The laying of the U.S. Capitol's cornerstone on September 18, 1793, would not have been complete without appropriate celebration. When President George Washington led a company of
Jets of water and a piece of stone.
Projects

Article

What's Happening Behind the Capitol Scaffolding?

By Erin Courtney
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To answer this question, we travel to a brick building in Vienna, Virginia, where the hum of an industrial-sized machine is unmistakable. Littering the fenced-in courtyard of the building are massive slabs of stone of all shapes and colors. Carving of a new rosette begun by a computerized numerical
Sculpture with three faces.
History & Discoveries

Article

Mothers in Marble (and Bronze)

By Erin Courtney
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In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. From historical figures to allegorical representations, images of women are found throughout the U.S. Capitol Building in the art and architecture. While not the only mother in the
Behind the Scenes

Article

Promoting a Culture of Conservation and Energy Reduction

By Laura Condeluci
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Reducing energy use at the Library of Congress (LOC) was critical in meeting the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) energy reduction goal of 30 percent reduction by the end of fiscal year 2015. The Architect of the Capitol maintains the facilities for the LOC, and the AOC Library Buildings and Grounds
Behind the Scenes

Article

Energy Savings Performance Contracts Help AOC Exceed Energy Goal

By Erin Courtney
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The Energy Policy Act of 1992 authorized the use of private sector financing to implement energy conservation methods and energy-efficiency technologies by federal entities. Congress provided a mechanism, through Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC), to accelerate investment in cost-effective
History & Discoveries

Article

Artfully Yours, Thomas Jefferson

By Erin Courtney
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Our nation's third president has his successes, as well as himself, memorialized in more than 10 pieces of art in the U.S. Capitol Building.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Lighting the Way to Energy Savings

By Franklin Bradley
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The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) achieved a 30 percent total energy reduction by the end of fiscal year 2015 that was mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The Senate Jurisdiction's efforts were integral to the AOC meeting its agency-wide goal. One of the key-energy saving
Pavers.
History & Discoveries

Article

Water Features Everywhere

By Sarah Davis
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There are more than 20 water features that Architect of the Capitol employees care for. Spanning across the Capitol campus, each of the House office buildings, Senate office buildings, Library of Congress buildings, Supreme Court buildings and the U.S. Botanic Garden have some type of fountain or
People working on pipes.
Projects

Article

Stopple Valve System

By R.C. "Skip" Vaughn
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Of the many challenges associated with maintaining and renovating a building that is more than 100 years old, one of the most difficult is working on the building's water systems. In buildings such as the Cannon House Office Building, the traditional method of fixing a water issue is to drain the
Behind the Scenes

Article

AOC Achieves 10-Year Energy Reduction Goal

By Laura Condeluci
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The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) focuses on energy and sustainability efforts in a cost-effective manner to maintain efficient, high-performing and healthy buildings across the Capitol campus. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 required the AOC to annually reduce its energy