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
Who or What Goes There?

On Friday, October 13, Architect of the Capitol employees set out to look into a new Capitol Building mystery involving delicate pink fabric with hand-stitching. Construction sites often yield historic artifacts, including bottles, newspapers and tools, but this find is new for the agency.
By erin courtney |October 31, 2017
        
                  Image
    Capitol Dome out of focus, branch in foreground.

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 Capitol (AOC) employees pointed their flashlights towards an enormous concrete slab adjacent to a brick wall of the air shaft. At the very top of the opening, delicate pink fabric with hand-stitching, was peeking from the concrete. Its location made it difficult to reach and hard to see.



Image
    Material can be seen sticking out of the corner concrete.*Fabric can be seen sticking out of the corner concrete.*

How and why did we end up here?

Tim Campbell, an AOC electrician, had been in the shaft looking for possible routes to run new electric lines to offices upstairs. "When I saw it, I thought, what in the world?" His boss, Kristy Long, Deputy Superintendent of the Capitol Building, agrees. "It is certainly intriguing. There doesn’t seem to be a good explanation for, what looks like a dress, to be in the concrete."



Image
    Close-up of dress piece.*Close-up of removed fabric.*

The AOC traces its history back to 1793, and it is an organization that has seen many interesting things in more than 200 years as the stewards of the buildings and grounds of Capitol Hill. Construction sites on campus often yield historic artifacts, including bottles, newspapers and tools. Finding a dress or feminine fabric is new for the agency.

Crouched in the air shaft, Long began scraping at the slab. Small pieces fell away revealing a single, dark hair intertwined in the fabric and embedded in the concrete. Working together, we quickly surrounded the area with a white paper, pulled the hair from crumbling material and secured it in an envelope.



Image
    Close-up of hair detail.*View of single dark hair that was removed.*

Is it simply fabric tossed into an active construction site and covered in concrete or is something more sinister underlying this discovery? Right now, we’re not sure. But be sure to follow our blog as we continue to research this mystery and provide updates!

Happy Halloween!
Comments
    
  
    
David Linn (no... (not verified)PermalinkNovember 4, 2017 - 9:55amFascinating story as always, Erin.  I can't wait to find out what the pink fabric is all about!
ReplyMICHAEL LILLY ... (not verified)PermalinkNovember 4, 2017 - 1:05pmYOU all have the very best job in all of USA!  Thank you for sharing.
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