Navigate to Homepage
Search
Main navigation
  

        
              Explore the Capitol Campus
                          Art
                            Buildings & Grounds
                            Capitol Hill Facts
                            Visitor Resources
                            Our Blog
                            What We Do
                          Areas of Expertise
                            Programs & Ceremonies
                            Projects
                            Publications
                            Strategic Objectives
                            About Us
                          Who We Are
                            History of the AOC
                            News & Notices
                            Organizational Structure
                            Partnerships & Recognition
                            Work With UsSearch Breadcrumb
    HomeExplore the Capitol CampusOur Blog
The Architect of the Capitol Sweeps Up the Past

When Jim Kaufmann, Capitol Grounds and Arboretum Director, happened across an 1891 street-sweeping map while going through cultural landscape reports, he had no idea how simple an old map could make caring for the U.S. Capitol Grounds.
By Morgan Green |July 13, 2021
        
                  Image
    An Architect of the Capitol street sweeper cleans up in Washington, D.C.

"We use our cultural landscape reports in a number of different aspects to guide our management of the grounds and this was a unique feature that we wouldn’t think would be relevant today. It goes to show how the tradition of caring for the grounds in a professional manner has been around for over 130 years," said Kaufmann.

Kaufmann assigned Lee Dennis, Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist, to oversee the new Fiscal Year 2021 street-sweeping operation at the Capitol complex. Dennis studied the 130-year-old map and realized with some modifications the map could still be followed in 2021.

There are more aspects to street maintenance than the original map addressed. In the 1890s, the Capitol complex was much smaller and saw significantly less traffic. The 1891 street sweeper was no modern technological wonder — the sweeper was a groundskeeper with a broom, dustpan, horse and buggy.

Image
    Jim Kaufmann, Capitol Grounds and Arboretum Director, pictured with a copy of the 1891 street sweeping map.

Jim Kaufmann, Capitol Grounds and Arboretum Director, pictured with a copy of the 1891 street sweeping map."The map really simplifies the importance of each area back then," said Dennis. The 1890s map, conveniently color coded by frequency of sweeping, will serve as a guideline for Capitol Grounds and Arboretum groundskeepers. For now, with COVID-19 limiting operations to an as-needed basis, Capitol Grounds and Arboretum runs the street sweeper a few times a week with a focus on Capitol Square. When things return to normal, Capitol Square will be color coded green to indicate it will be swept daily. Areas swept three times a week are coded yellow, areas swept twice a week are coded light blue, and areas swept once a week are coded dark blue.

Not only does street sweeping keep the U.S. Capitol Grounds looking pristine, the technology behind today's street sweeper has a sustainable and environmental focus as well. The street sweeper is a more efficient way of cleaning the sidewalks and curb lines to keep debris from building up in the catch basins of the storm sewers.

"I can't help but wonder if any of the recommendations of the street sweeping plans were supported or directed by Frederick Law Olmsted," Dennis added. Olmsted, regarded as the founder of American landscape architecture, designed the U.S. Capitol Grounds and could have very well overseen a project of this nature. With millions of visitors each year, caring for the grounds is no easy feat and takes months of expert planning. The history and tradition of caring for the U.S. Capitol Grounds is a celebrated ritual that will continue for generations to come.
Comments
    
  
    
Dotty Blum (not verified)PermalinkJuly 13, 2021 - 1:46pmVery interesting! Thanks for your article.
ReplyMichael J Lilly (not verified)PermalinkJuly 13, 2021 - 4:17pmThank You for this timely article and keeping our Capital clean.
ReplyMarty Shore (not verified)PermalinkJuly 13, 2021 - 9:42pmCapitol Grounds rocks!
ReplyJayasri (Joyce) Hart (not verified)PermalinkJuly 21, 2021 - 7:36amI wonder if along with the "groundskeeper with a broom, dustpan, horse and buggy," there was a groundskeeper with a hose. I vaguely remember pictures of streets being watered down.
ReplyAdd new comment
    Your name
Email Address
        The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Comment
About text formats
Plain text
  
  
      
          No HTML tags allowed.
                      Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
                      Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
          
    
      Recent Stories
Related Articles
            
          History & Discoveries

  Evolution of Women in Art at the U.S. Capitol

An in-depth look at the evolution of women in art at the U.S. Capitol.
    History & Discoveries

  Capitol Illumination

Learn more about the history of lighting this iconic building including the part of the Dome called the "tholos."
    History & Discoveries

  Artfully Yours, George Washington

While George Washington never actually graced the halls of the U.S. Capitol, his presence, influence and even his likeness, is everywhere including 35 pieces of art.
    History & Discoveries

  Unearthing Capitol Hill's Buried History

Visit Congressional Cemetery and discover the many connections the Architect of the Capitol has to this hallowed ground.
    
                      More Stories Serve. Preserve. Inspire.

              Contact Us
                            Accountability
                            Hill Staff Resources
                            AOC Staff Resources
Utility
  

        
              Privacy Policy
                            Image Terms of Use
                            Inspector General
                            U.S. Botanic Garden
                            U.S. Capitol Visitor CenterFacebook
	Twitter
	Flickr
	YouTube
	Instagram
	Subscribe