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
How Two Tiny "Houses" Ended Up on the National Mall

The pencil-like shape of the Washington Monument, the grand pediment of the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Dome are all emblematic shapes of Washington, D.C. But in addition to these architectural juggernauts, two smaller, more understated buildings on the National Mall often draw the eye.
By Madeleine Lucchetti |October 10, 2023
        
                  Image
    Exterior of a building and door.

One of Charles Bulfinch's Gatehouses, photographed in 1960 in the same place it sits today.

If you've ever found yourself walking or driving past the intersection of 15th or 17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, you may have noticed what look like tiny houses erected along the sidewalk — and wondered if someone once lived in the middle of the Mall.

Officially known as the Bulfinch Gatehouses, the "houses" are actually one-room sandstone structures with classical elements including Tuscan order porches. The 12-foot-high buildings originally flanked a pedestrian entrance on the west side of the U.S. Capitol.

Drawing.

Painted portrait of Charles Bulfinch, Third Architect of the Capitol

A portrait of Charles Bulfinch by George Mathews; Architectural layout for the gatehouses.


Charles Bulfinch, the man responsible for designing the grand Capitol Dome, also drew up the plans for these diminutive twin gatehouses. He served as the third Architect of the Capitol and is widely considered the first American-born architect. In the 1820s, he created the gatehouses to shelter guards keeping watch over the former west side entrance. The gate keepers stationed there shooed away a host of unwanted visitors, particularly neighboring farm animals: cattle, sheep and goats were known to wander into the U.S. Capitol Grounds to munch on the garden plantings.

When the U.S. Capitol underwent renovations in 1874 —  as Frederick Law Olmsted began to redesign elements of the grounds —  the gatehouses were moved to the posts they maintain today. Over the past 150 years, the gatehouses seem to have served in a variety of capacities. One 1954 newspaper article describes them as having been used by the National Park Service to lodge U.S. Park Police and to store tools. They may have also been turned into first-aid stations during downtown parades.

The gatehouses were constructed using a poor grade of Acadia sandstone, so extensive discoloration and wear on each can be seen clearly. Documentation shows the gatehouses were renovated in 1889 and 1938, but neither effort covered nor removed the carvings made on one side of the 15th Street gatehouse. The inscriptions there denote record flood levels from significant storm systems in the late 19th century.

Plaque with text.

The corner of a building.

A plaque from the outside of one gatehouse; Carvings commemorating flood levels. They read "Dirksen High Water Mark: Feb. 12, 1881"; "High Water Mark: Nov. 26, 1877."


While they're no longer guarding the U.S. Capitol, the buildings remain a testament to Bulfinch's signature style and are part of the historic fabric of Capitol Hill.

No matter their post, the gatehouses stand sentinel, ready to witness whatever's to come.
Comments
    
  
    
Michael S Burd  (not verified)PermalinkOctober 10, 2023 - 1:51pmYou left us hanging - what, if anything, are they used for today?
ReplyMichael LILLY (not verified)PermalinkOctober 10, 2023 - 4:34pmI thank you for the history of these two building, also showing another portion of our capital that is there today.
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