Historic Preservation

Historic preservation on one level is understanding and appreciating history and what it teaches us about ourselves. However, preservation also means taking action.

Since the U.S. Capitol and most of the other buildings under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) are working office buildings, AOC employees must be mindful that their work to support the occupants does not damage or destroy the parts of the buildings that are architecturally or historically significant.

Video Transcript

At the Architect of the Capitol, preservation is not just a discipline. It's not just a duty. Preservation is the heart of our mission.

It is the pulse that moves through every careful repair. Every line drawn on a plan. Every decision that protects the character of this historic campus.

When we preserve, we are not simply maintaining buildings and grounds. We are honoring the ideals, the struggles and the aspirations that have shaped our nation for 250 years.

Here, every space tells a story. Some are grand and well known. Others are quiet, tucked into corners only a few will ever see. But each one deserves to be cared for with intention. Each one holds a piece of our collective memory.

Preservation is an act of respect. Respect for the craftsmen who built these structures, for the public servants who work within them, and for the generations who will inherit these places long after we are gone. It is also an act of hope grounded in the belief that our heritage and ideals are worth passing forward.

We celebrate the people who make this mission real. The conservators, the architects and engineers, historians and artisans, planners, technicians, horticulturists, arborists, stone masons and plasterers, and stewards who lend their skill and passion to the Capitol every day.

Our work stretches from the careful preservation of historic structures to the thoughtful care of the cultural landscapes that give this campus its character and sense of place.

Through our hands and our dedication, history remains alive in the buildings we protect and the living landscapes that welcome millions of visitors each year, and that serve the nation, and the world, as a beacon of democracy.

Preservation is how we protect our past, serve our present and inspire our future.

It is, in every way, the heart of our mission and it beats through all we do.