Displaying 121 - 150 of 849 Clear

Visitor Guides Andrew Tremel, Carrie Gallagher and Brandon Hintze who made the Student Program so successful.
Programs & Events

Article

Visitor Guides Help Students Experience the Legislative Process

By Laura Trivers
| January 31, 2018
"Ladies and gentlemen," the committee chair said, calling to order the newly sworn in senators. "We have important business to consider today. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed needs our help to lessen nitrogen run-off – and its environmental impacts." The chair of the Environment and Public Works
Condition of the stone on the Russell Building pre-restoration.
Projects

Article

Leave No Stone Unrestored

By Justin Kieffer
| January 11, 2018
All around the U.S. Capitol campus, there is something that you cannot avoid seeing as you look at the historic buildings: stone.
2017 Highlights
History & Discoveries

Article

Ten Memorable Moments of 2017

By Sarah Davis
| December 20, 2017
This has been a year of many great moments at the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) and on Capitol Hill. Before we dive into 2018, here's a look back at some of this year's highlights. Inauguration The presidential inaugural platform on the U.S. Capitol's West Front had its chance to shine on January
'Premium Picasso' (left) and 'Jingle Bell' (right) pointsettias.
Programs & Events

Article

Poinsettias Flourish at the U.S. Botanic Garden

By Devin Dotson
| December 22, 2017
If you stop by the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) through New Year's Day, you can see 'Jingle Bell' (pictured, above right) and 'Jingle Bell Rock' that are red with pink or white splashes. You might also enjoy finding 'Peppermint Ruffles' with its pink tones or 'Autumn Leaves' displaying unexpected
Group photo of members of the AOC Capitol Grounds team with the Safety Sign.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Solving Problems One Challenge at a Time

By Erin Courtney
| November 29, 2017
One of the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) strategic goals is to foster an innovative and empowered workforce. Achieving this goal will ensure that AOC staff will exercise greater responsibility for performance, proactively apply well-informed judgement and innovation, to solve problems with
The lunette "Telegraph" by Brumidi in the now Lyndon B. Johnson Room, S-211.
History & Discoveries

Article

Plenty to Be Thankful For

By Sarah Davis
| November 20, 2017
The fall season is known for cooler weather, leaves changing colors, football, apple picking and pumpkins. With Thanksgiving upon us this week, I also can't help but think of family, turkey and pie. Another traditional symbol of the upcoming holiday is the cornucopia. A cornucopia is often used to
2017 War Gardens
Programs & Events

Article

Sowing the Seeds of Victory

By Erin Courtney
| November 15, 2017
At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the United States remained on the sidelines as America continued to engage in commerce with European countries on both sides of the conflict. However, by early 1917 the United States had begun to prepare for war. Following the sinking of the ocean
Searching for "The One"
Programs & Events

Article

Finding "The One"

By Ted Bechtol
| November 9, 2017
Sometimes you know right away, when you catch a glimpse through the crowd, then time slows down and your heart skips a beat. Sometimes you recognize the potential, but want to keep your options open in case something better comes along. Sometimes people may think you're being too picky, but you just
Groundbreaking at the Hart Senate Office Building.
History & Discoveries

Article

Growth in Major Facilities Under AOC's Care

By Andrew Dentamaro
| November 8, 2017
The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) legacy is rooted in the very beginnings of Washington, D.C., with the laying of the U.S. Capitol cornerstone in 1793. As the country grew, so did the Capitol campus and, with it, the AOC's responsibilities. Click the image above to enlarge. Over the course of our
Robert Gannon smoothes out imperfections in a plaster cast.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Behind the Scenes: Senate Office Buildings Masonry Branch

By Elizabeth Yoder
| November 1, 2017
Some Architect of the Capitol employees are highly visible, while others work behind the scenes to preserve the awe-inspiring facilities on Capitol Hill. Go behind the scenes to learn more about the work of the Senate Office Buildings Masonry Branch beginning at 4 a.m. each morning.
Capitol Dome out of focus, branch in foreground.
History & Discoveries

Article

Who or What Goes There?

By Erin Courtney
| October 31, 2017
On Friday, October 13, I took a stairwell down two levels below the U.S. Capitol basement, entered a locked storage area, climbed a ladder into the air shaft below the House Extension and carefully shimmied through the dark and dusty bowels of the building. Rounding a corner, Architect of the
Black and white photo of the Capitol Power Plant's interior.
History & Discoveries

Article

Capitol Power Plant: A Century of Service

By AOC Staff
| December 5, 2010
This year, the Capitol Power Plant marks 100 years of steady service of steam and chilled water to heat and cool the Capitol. In that century of service, the plant has undergone significant changes as new buildings were built, and more modern and efficient equipment was installed. What hasn't
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
Federal Office Building No. 8, now known as the O’Neill House Office Building, under original construction. Photo courtesy of the FDA.
History & Discoveries

Article

Then & Now: O'Neill House Office Building

By Erin Nelson
| October 18, 2017
The O'Neill House Office Building was constructed in the early 1960s. Originally known as Federal Office Building No. 8, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to name the building after the late former Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill in 2012. Federal Office Building No. 8 was the Food
Capitol Visitor Center architecture that borrows from historic Capitol Building architecture.
From the Architect

Article

Architect's Notebook: Signs of Respect

By Stephen T. Ayers
| October 11, 2017
Many of our monumental buildings on Capitol Hill were designed and constructed using classical orders of architecture. When designing and constructing the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (CVC), we were challenged to design and construct a building using modern materials and technology that is a
Bill Burns, an Architect of the Capitol Woodcrafter Supervisor in the Planning and Project Management's Construction Division.
Doing Good

Article

A Series of Compassionate Events

By Justin Kieffer
| August 16, 2017
One person's small act of compassion can start a chain reaction of kindness. Such is the story of a 16-year-old girl named Brittney James, who saw a commercial on TV and decided to sponsor a three-year-old Kenyan named Newton. Brittney hoped to one day meet Newton, but three years later she was
The deburring tool used to remove sharp edges from sheet metal.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Two Thumbs Up for Taking the Edge Off

By Franklin Bradley
| August 9, 2017
A small and seemingly simple tool used by the Architect of the Capitol sheet metal mechanics reduces injuries by saving hands, which is why we give it two thumbs up as a cool tool. This deburring tool removes sharp edges from metal which must be custom fit to unique spaces.
The bronze Amateis Doors are on display in the House Wing of the U.S. Capitol, across from the Bulfinch stairway near the Memorial Door entrance.
History & Discoveries

Article

The Doors to Nowhere

By Erin Nelson
| August 2, 2017
In 1901, Congress passed legislation to appropriate funds for the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to submit plans for reconstructing the center of the U.S. Capitol, a project that included refacing the West Front in marble. As plans were being developed, Superintendent of the U.S. Capitol and Grounds
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
| October 20, 2011
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
Group photo of the Architect of the Capitol high-voltage electricians on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.
Behind the Scenes

Article

High-Voltage Team Powers the Powerful

By Franklin Bradley
| July 26, 2017
Learn how the AOC's High-Voltage team keeps the campus running.
A skylight allows natural light to fill the hallway once occupied by a courtyard at the U.S. Capitol.
History & Discoveries

Article

Then & Now: U.S. Capitol Courtyards

By Erin Nelson
| July 19, 2017
There is always a story waiting to be uncovered in the U.S. Capitol — not of politics or policy, but of the building itself. A building of such prominence and formal tradition would seem unlikely to have undergone so many changes over the decades, but our iconic U.S. Capitol continues to change to
The gilded Torch of Knowledge above the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.
From the Architect

Article

Architect's Notebook: What We Hold Precious

By Stephen T. Ayers
| July 12, 2017
Walking through the Capitol campus, I frequently come across ornamentation in our buildings made from various metals. I was recently taking in the splendor of the gilded Torch of Knowledge above the Thomas Jefferson Building when my mind began wandering through the many additional decorative
A view of the Capitol after the British burning on the 24th August 1814.
History & Discoveries

Article

Fires, Flight, Flag: The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner

By Franklin Bradley
| June 14, 2017
A president fleeing Washington, D.C. A lost silver plate under the U.S. Capitol cornerstone. A U.S. flag with 15 stripes. When British troops burned the U.S. Capitol and White House during the War of 1812, these three lesser-known elements of American history came together. In the brutal summer heat
Elliott Woods, 6th Architect of the Capitol
Behind the Scenes

Article

Elliott Woods: Superintendent, Experimenter, Operatic Composer... Kazoo Player?

By Kristen Frederick
| May 25, 2017
How did Elliott Woods, someone with only a high school education, become the sixth Architect of the Capitol? Described during his lifetime as hardworking and humble, Elliott Woods can be considered an American success story. Born in 1865 during his parents' overseas trip in England, Woods began his
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
Behind the Scenes

Article

Family Connections at the Capitol

By Wayne Kehoe
| April 24, 2017
Being at the Capitol can be a family affair, literally! Barry Boughton volunteers each Monday at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). Originally from Michigan, Barry was an attorney who moved to Washington, D.C. in 2001. A CVC volunteer since 2011, Barry also volunteers at the Library of Congress
AOC's Joel Evans standing with the Supreme Court Building in the background.
Doing Good

Article

A Supreme Choice for Developing Area Youth

By Sarah Davis
| April 19, 2017
What started as a boy's after-school project request has turned into a man's mission.
Lunette above a door of the modern-day Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
History & Discoveries

Article

Artfully Yours, Benjamin Franklin

By Erin Courtney
| April 17, 2017
In second grade, I read "Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia" by Margaret Cousins. The book left me enthralled by the life of one of the greatest thinkers in American history. From birth to death, Franklin led a complex and interesting life. Benjamin Franklin was a scientist, inventor, writer and
Senate Park Fountain
History & Discoveries

Article

By the Numbers: Senate Fountain

By Andrew Dentamaro
| April 12, 2017
One of the overlooked gems on Capitol Hill, the Senate fountain, is nestled between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol, atop the Senate upper park. A hexagonal granite monolith with high jets of water spouting from its center, the Architect of the Capitol received authorization for its construction
James Madison Memorial Building
History & Discoveries

Article

Then & Now: Madison Building

By Franklin Bradley
| April 5, 2017
For $75 a month, you could rent a Capitol Hill apartment across the street from the magnificent Thomas Jefferson Building in a quiet neighborhood with tree-lined brick sidewalks, broad alleys and neighbors who could be laborers, lawyers or congressmen. At least, you could 60 years ago. A view of the