Behind the Scenes
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AOC Photographer Chuck Badal gives a behind the scenes look at how some of his favorite photos of the Capitol were captured — from the roof of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.
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Behind the Scenes
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Statues are currently located in National Statuary Hall, the Capitol Visitor Center, the Crypt, the Hall of Columns, the Rotunda and various areas throughout the House and Senate wings of the Capitol. This list sorts the statues by their location in the U.S. Capitol building.
History & Discoveries
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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
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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.
Behind the Scenes
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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
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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
Behind the Scenes
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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
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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
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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
History & Discoveries
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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
History & Discoveries
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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
Behind the Scenes
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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
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The Chief Financial Officer oversees the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) billion-dollar budget as well as provides stewardship over its financial resources that sustain the financial operation needs of the offices/jurisdictions and central services of the AOC.
History & Discoveries
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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
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Appointed August 30, 1865; Died in office, January 6, 1902 Edward Clark was appointed Architect of the Capitol Extension in 1865 to fill the vacancy caused by Thomas U. Walter's resignation. Under way for over 14 years, the interior of the U.S. Capitol extension was at this point complete, and only
Doing Good
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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
Doing Good
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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
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On Tuesday, February 28, 2012, Congress unveiled a marker to commemorate the important role played by laborers, including enslaved African Americans, in building the United States Capitol. Their contributions were essential for the constructing what would later become known as the Temple of Liberty.
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For site management, the following usage information is collected for statistical purposes about your visit to AOC.gov: the name of the Internet domain from which you access AOC.gov and the date and time that you access the site. If you choose to provide us with personal information in an e-mail
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When any of the AOC's images are used in print or electronic publications, the photographic credit line should read "Architect of the Capitol." If an image requires additional use permission, a note to that effect appears on the relevant download page. These images may not be used in any way that
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Designed by renowned artist Allyn Cox (1896-1982), three corridors on the first floor of the U.S. Capitol's House wing are elaborately decorated with wall and ceiling murals that include historical scenes, portraits and maps related to the development and growth of the United States.
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The first floor of the U.S. Capitol's Senate wing is elaborately decorated with these wall and ceiling murals.
History & Discoveries
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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
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Employees on Capitol Hill can contact their Architect of the Capitol jurisdiction's office to submit service requests using the information below.
