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View of a walkway and benches on the U.S. Capitol Grounds.History & DiscoveriesTop 5 Spots to Enjoy Spring on the Capitol CampusSpring in Washington, D.C., is one of the most beautiful times to visit the nation's capital. Learn about five beautiful, and less known spots, to enjoy the warm weather near the U.S. Capitol.Read the Story

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        ExpertiseArchitectureElectricalEngineeringGardeningHistoric PreservationMasonryMechanicsMetal WorkPainting and PlasterPlumbingVisitor ServicesWoodcrafting
Place (field_relation_place) (entityreference filter)
        PlaceBartholdi Fountain and GardensBrumidi CorridorsCannon House Office BuildingCapitol DomeCapitol Power PlantCapitol RotundaCapitol Subway SystemCryptDirksen Senate Office BuildingFort MeadeLongworth House Office BuildingNational Statuary HallO'Neill House Office BuildingOld Senate ChamberOld Supreme Court ChamberOlmsted TerraceOutdoor GardensPackard CampusRussell Senate Office BuildingSmall House RotundaSummerhouseSupreme Court BuildingThomas Jefferson BuildingU.S. Botanic Garden ConservatoryU.S. Botanic Garden Production FacilityU.S. Capitol BuildingU.S. Capitol GroundsU.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Ongoing Projects (field_relation_project) (entityreference filter)
        ProjectCannon RenewalCapitol Building Paint Analysis and Plaster RepairsCapitol Exterior Preservation - Stone and MetalDome Restoration ProjectGrant Memorial ConservationHeritage Asset ConservationOlmsted Terrace PreservationRussell Exterior Envelope ProjectStone Preservation on the Capitol Campus
Article TypeBehind the Scenes

                    Doing Good

                    From the Architect

                    History & Discoveries

                    Programs & Events

                    Projects
      The gilded Torch of Knowledge above the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.

From the Architect

  Architect's Notebook: What We Hold Precious
By stephen t ayers |July 12, 2017
Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers reflects on use of precious in decorative elements of the Library of Congress, including the Torch of Knowledge, Great Hall and Main Reading Room. Gold, copper, bronze and aluminum elements play an important role in the inspiration of the Jefferson Building.
    Grace Anderson adjusts the camera and laptop for an online horticultural education program.

Behind the Scenes

  U.S. Botanic Garden Taps New Technologies To Grow Plant Education
By devin dotson |May 3, 2022
    Leaves and sky.

History & Discoveries

  Leaves of Green: Capitol's Mature Trees Offer Big Payouts
By Madeleine Lucchetti |April 28, 2023
This Arbor Day, we celebrate the Capitol Grounds and Arboretum team's continued efforts to preserve and protect Olmsted's legacy — one of longstanding stewardship that's paying off every day.
    Projects

  Restoring Grant's Glory
By laura condeluci |April 27, 2015
Because weather and time have not been kind to the Grant Memorial, AOC staff developed a preservation strategy to restore the Grant Memorial to its original condition.
    History & Discoveries

  From the Archives: Bike Racks on Capitol Hill
By aoc curator |July 31, 2013
Andria Leo, archivist for the Architect of the Capitol, discovered historical documents showing the purchase of the first bike racks on Capitol Hill.
    History & Discoveries

  Bringing Cannon Back to the Future
By sarah davis |April 21, 2015
High in the sky, about 50 feet above the roof, a crane is peeking out of the Cannon House Office Building. This tower crane is part of the AOC's renewal project to improve and preserve the building, making it more efficient, comfortable and safer, while retaining its historic grandeur.
    "Declaration of Independence" scene from the Frieze of American History found in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

History & Discoveries

  Artfully Yours, John Adams
By sarah davis |October 30, 2018
Similar to many other Founding Fathers, John Adams appears in several pieces of art throughout the United States Capitol. He played a large role in the Declaration of Independence, and art involving the signing of this document is where he can be found the most.
    History & Discoveries

  Monuments Man Creates Monumental Statue
By franklin bradley |February 7, 2014
One of the lead characters in the "Monuments Men" movie was inspired by Walker K. Hancock, an artist who contributed many works of art to the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress and the Supreme Court of the United States. Dig deeper in to this monument man's history.
    Russell Senate Office Building 2010

Projects

  100 Year-Old Russell Senate Office Building: Getting Some "Work Done"
By aoc staff |May 13, 2010
The Russell Senate Office Building is looking really good for its age but, to keep it in tip-top condition, the Architect of the Capitol spent some time studying the building's exterior in preparation to clean, repair and restore the exterior envelope of this historic building.
    Photo of Vernon Miller II, Kenneth Vereen and Pete Ferentinos.

Behind the Scenes

  In the Senate Office Buildings, Maintenance Collaboration Is a Clean Sweep
By Madeleine Lucchetti |January 5, 2023
Hours before the sun rises each morning, Zamboni-like scrubbing machines scuttle through the halls of the Senate office buildings. Each is operated by a dedicated team of Architect of the Capitol (AOC) specialists who spend hours ensuring the marble flooring sparkles.
    Painting of people.

Behind the Scenes

  Family Connections at the Capitol
By wayne kehoe |April 24, 2017
Being at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., can be a family affair, literally! A volunteer at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center describes two pieces of U.S. Capitol art that he has a connection to through his ancestors - William Brewster and Johnathan Trumbull.
    The Capitol Materials Cart being shown to visitors in Emancipation Hall.

Programs & Events

  Cool Tools: Capitol Materials Cart
By erin courtney |June 5, 2019
The new U.S. Capitol Materials Cart Program showcases a variety of AOC trades, including masonry, sheet metal, paint and wood-crafting. The cart's trays allow Capitol visitors to see and touch elements of the building often out of reach or hidden to an untrained eye.
    The Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.

From the Architect

  Architect's Notebook: Finding Comfort In Balance
By stephen t ayers |June 12, 2018
Stephen Ayers, 11th Architect of the Capitol, describes how order, balance and proportion are all achieved through architecture in the Library of Congress' Main Reading Room. The Thomas Jefferson Building is one of his favorite examples of classical architecture on the U.S. Capitol Campus.
    A view of the renovated Bartholdi Park.

History & Discoveries

  Renovated Bartholdi Park is a SITE(S) to Behold
By devin dotson |October 25, 2017
An in-depth summary of a recent renovation at the U.S. Botanic Garden's Bartholdi Park to increase accessibility and incorporate areas of sustainable landscaping including hydrology, vegetation, soil, materials and human health. The park is poised to welcome visitors from around the globe.
    Two people crouching.

History & Discoveries

  Dome Keepers
By matt guilfoyle |March 13, 2010
The iconic "Walter dome" atop the Capitol is recognized around the world as a symbol of American strength and freedom. During its construction from 1855 to 1866, perhaps the greatest threat to the dome was the outbreak of the Civil War. To protect the capital city, a garrison of Union soldiers was stationed within the Capitol.
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