Displaying 661 - 690 of 1017 Clear

History & Discoveries

Article

Monuments Men Return to Inspire on Capitol Hill

By Franklin Bradley
|
In 2016, a Congressional Gold Medal was presented in recognition of the Monuments Men. Below highlights just a few of these heroes with their accomplishments seen on Capitol Hill, from the outside of the buildings to the rooms and artwork within. Under enemy fire, Monuments Man Roscoe DeWitt
Behind the Scenes

Article

Papal Preparation Takes Teamwork

By Erin Courtney
|
Eight months ago, Raynell Bennett, Director of Planning, Evaluation and Operations for the U.S. Capitol, received a telephone call that would keep her office and many others throughout the capitol campus very busy. Pope Francis accepted an invitation from Speaker of the House of Representatives John
Projects

Article

Cannon Renewal Project: Best Practices In The Field

By R.C. "Skip" Vaughn
|
Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) R.C. "Skip" Vaughn, Capital Projects Administrator, provides a best practices example from the building utilities phase of the Cannon Renewal.

Person

Kirk Nelson

By Sarah Davis
|
The Chief Engineer has primary responsibility for master planning, building performance audits, retro-commissioning and facility condition assessments. The Office of the Chief Engineer also manages the energy and sustainability program, provides project-funded, in-house construction services
Group of people standing in front of the U.S. Capitol.
Public Notice

Article

Architect of the Capitol Recognized as Bicycle Friendly Business

By AOC Staff
|
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is now a League of American Bicyclists recognized Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Business!
Interior of a building.
History & Discoveries

Article

A Rotunda Roundup

By Sarah Davis
|
The U.S. Capitol's rotunda is closed this month to prepare for restoration, but there are six other rotunda areas visitors should be sure to see.
App screenshot. Text: "Welcome to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda"
Public Notice

Article

Put the Rotunda in Your Pocket

By AOC Staff
|
​Knowing that the U.S. Capitol Rotunda would be closed to visitors between July 27 and September 7 to prepare for restoration, the Capitol Visitor Center began in January to develop a Rotunda app that allows visitors to:​ Take a virtual tour of the Rotunda with the help of 360-degree imaging Learn
History & Discoveries

Article

Capitol Reflections: ADA and the Visitor Experience

By Laura Condeluci
|
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) works to continually improve physical access across the Capitol campus, using creative solutions to ensure the grounds and buildings provide access to all, while maintaining and preserving the historic fabric and character of Capitol Hill. While we have made great
History & Discoveries

Article

Capitol Reflections: ADA and Historic Buildings

By Laura Condeluci
|
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) works to continually improve physical access across the U.S. Capitol campus, using creative solutions to ensure the grounds and buildings provide access to all, while maintaining and preserving the historic fabric and character of Capitol Hill. While we have made
History & Discoveries

Article

Capitol Reflections: ADA and Life Safety

By Laura Condeluci
|
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) works to continually improve physical access across the U.S. Capitol campus, using creative solutions to ensure the grounds and buildings provide access to all, while maintaining and preserving the historic fabric and character of Capitol Hill. While we have made
Programs & Events

Article

CVC Guides Help Visitor "See" the Old Supreme Court

By Sharon Gang
|
When Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) Guide John Claya encountered a guest with a visual disability near the Old Supreme Court Chamber, he used a creative tool to help her "see" the room. On Thursday, July 9, John was passing through the Small Senate Rotunda toward the Crypt when he noticed a family of
History & Discoveries

Article

Designing with ADA in Mind

By Nancy Skinkle
|
An accessible ramp at Senate Parks near the Senate Underground Garage. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and represents one of the country's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation as it prohibits discrimination and guarantees people with
Program graphics.
Public Notice

Article

Kennedy Center & U.S. Botanic Garden Collaboration

By USBG Staff
|
The Kennedy Center and the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) collaborate for the first time on two unique and inventive world premiere productions, The Cerulean Time Capsule and Flowers Stink, to be performed at the U.S. Botanic Garden in September and October, 2015. The U.S. Botanic Garden is a
Programs & Events

Article

A Garden for Everyone

By USBG Staff
|
The U.S. Botanic Garden is committed to welcoming every visitor by providing accessible facilities and inclusive programming. Several efforts ensure that all can explore the USBG, including accessible routes, hand rails, all-terrain wheelchairs for loan, guides available in Braille and more.
Programs & Events

Article

Mobility Assistance: There When You Need It!

By Sharon Gang
|
Two years ago when I needed the accessibility operations provided by the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) on the Capitol campus, they were there for me. Functioning escalators and elevators were invaluable to me as I recovered from knee replacement surgery. Thanks to modern science, I have a new
Projects

Article

Seeing Through Concrete

By R.C. "Skip" Vaughn
|
Architect of the Capitol's R.C. "Skip" Vaughn, Capital Projects Administrator, gives a quick project update from the building utilities phase of the Cannon Renewal. As part of the Cannon Renewal Project, the team is using ground penetrating radar (GPR) to plan and execute its work. GPR drawings
New Target Test
Projects

Article

Capitol Rotunda Restoration

By Matt Guilfoyle
|
The restoration of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda will ensure this hallowed space will be enjoyed by generations for years to come. Work includes removing hazardous materials, restoring ironwork, upgrading electrical and mechanical systems, installing new lighting and repainting.
Entrance to a building.

Basic page

Phelps High School Partnership

By Sarah Davis
|
From Brumidi to Olmsted, our agency has a storied history of recruiting highly skilled engineers, members of the tradecrafts and administrators to preserve and enhance what the world sees as an icon of democracy and what we simply call home.
Logo. Text: Sustainable SITES Initiative.
Public Notice

Article

Good News for Sustainable Landscapes

By AOC Staff
|
Sustainable landscaping program SITES, developed by United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and partners, was launched today by Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI). SITES is the most comprehensive program and toolkit for developing sustainable landscapes. Its rating system can be applied to
Painted portrait of J. George Stewart, Eighth Architect of the Capitol.

Person

J. George Stewart

|
October 1, 1954 - May 24, 1970 (died in office). J. George Stewart was appointed Architect of the Capitol in 1954 to fill the vacancy caused by David Lynn's retirement. Like his two predecessors, Stewart was not an architect, but unlike Woods and Lynn, he had no prior experience with the Architect
History & Discoveries

Article

History with a Side of Mystery: the Rotunda Benches

By Sharon Gang
|
The benches currently in the Capitol Rotunda were used in the chapel at Saint Elizabeths Hospital for many years. The photo above shows the benches in the chapel, which was decorated for Christmas circa 1896. History The AOC cares for the benches in the Capitol Rotunda whose cast-iron supports and
Doing Good

Article

Doing Good: Investing in the Next Generation

By Erin Nelson
|
What do you want to achieve in your lifetime? How will your achievements improve the world and define your legacy when you are gone? While these are hard questions for even the most mature adults, they are questions Emmanuel Akinjide poses to every high school student he mentors. "I want to help
Behind the Scenes

Article

AOC's TLC Keeps Historic Furniture Looking New

By Sharon Gang
|
Hands-on Attention Helps Blend Vintage and New into Cohesive Collection Upon the recent retirement of a long-time senator, the Senate Office Buildings Painting and Refinishing Branch is set to work on one of the oldest desks in the Senate office buildings. Perched on a large dolly like an elephant
Projects

Article

Restoring Grant's Glory

By Laura Condeluci
|
Because weather and time have not been kind to the Grant Memorial, AOC staff developed a preservation strategy to restore the Grant Memorial to its original condition.
Projects

Article

Bringing Cannon Back to the Future

By Sarah Davis
|
High in the sky, about 50 feet above the roof, a crane is peeking out of the Cannon House Office Building. This tower crane is part of the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) 10-year renewal project to improve and preserve the Cannon Building, which has not received a comprehensive systems upgrade
Drawing.
History & Discoveries

Article

The Lincoln Catafalque in the U.S. Capitol

By Curator Division
|
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s death, AOC Curator Barbara Wolanin details the days he lay in state at the U.S. Capitol.
Projects

Article

Expert Metalwork Revealed in Restoration of the U.S. Capitol Dome

By AOC Staff
|
Restoring the U.S. Capitol Dome is a massive project. It's exciting to uncover the artistry of a long-gone era and to see elements of the Dome that have not been seen for decades. More than 1,300 cracks in the nearly nine million pound cast iron Dome are being repaired by experts working day and

Highlight

Barry Goldwater Statue

By Sarah Davis
|
This statue of Barry Goldwater was given to the National Statuary Hall Collection by Arizona in 2015. Goldwater's statue replaced one of John Campbell Greenway, which the state of Arizona donated to the National Statuary Hall Collection in 1930.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Searching for the Perfect U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

By Ted Bechtol
|
By Ted Bechtol, Superintendent of the Capitol Grounds For two beautiful summer days in late July, I traveled around Chippewa National Forest in Cass Lake, Minnesota, to search for the perfect U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. It is my job, as Superintendent of the Capitol Grounds, to evaluate and select
Programs & Events

Article

2014 Christmas Tree Selection

By Ted Bechtol
|
For two beautiful summer days in late July, I traveled around Chippewa National Forest in Cass Lake, Minnesota, to search for the perfect U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. It is my job, as Superintendent of the Capitol Grounds, to evaluate and select the Capitol Christmas Tree from a different national