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 Campus
Our Blog
        
                  Delve deeper into the stories behind the people, art, history and grounds.
Subscribe to receive Blog updates via email.
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

Background Image
    
    
    Expand FiltersHide Filters
          Filter ResultsDisplaying 1 - 15 of 278
            Sort by
        DatePopularity
    Search
Areas of Expertise (field_relation_expertise)
        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
      British Burn the Capitol, 1814, Allyn Cox, 1974, Corridor, House wing, First Floor.

History & Discoveries

  A Most Magnificent Ruin: The Burning of the Capitol during the War of 1812
By aoc curator |August 1, 2023
In retaliation for Americans burning the Canadian capital at York (Toronto) on April 27, 1813, British troops would later descend on Washington, D.C., setting fire to much of the city. Follow the path the British took in 1814 to burn the U.S. Capitol and learn more about damage done to this historic building.
    Gnome statue in doorway.

History & Discoveries

  Meigs' Miniatures: The Story of the Tiny Doors in the U.S. Capitol
By erin nelson |December 23, 2022
Guesses for what is behind the Capitol Building's smallest doors are as varied as the architectural details that encompass the Capitol campus. The correct explanation for their existence involves Christmas Eve, the Library of Congress and engineer Montgomery Meigs.
    View of the U.S. Capitol during Sunrise in January 2019.

Behind the Scenes

  U.S. Capitol Clean-up
By aoc staff |January 15, 2021
Hear from a few employees about the incredible effort they and their teams put forward in the aftermath of the Capitol breach on January 6, 2021.
    Painting of two people sitting.

History & Discoveries

  The Liberty Cap in the Art of the U.S. Capitol
By aoc curator |January 29, 2013
The liberty cap was the symbol of freedom and liberty commonly used in the 19th century and is seen in many places in the United States Capitol.
    Columns in a room.

History & Discoveries

  How The Capitol Crypt Got Its Name
By aoc curator |December 14, 2022
Is anyone buried in the U.S. Capitol? The term "crypt" has long referred to a space beneath the main floor of a church or a chamber in a mausoleum. For many of us it suggests somber, stony silence and perhaps dusty coffins. The Capitol Crypt, however, is a different thing altogether.
    Brumidi's "War" is portrayed by Minerva, goddess of wisdom and battle, flying across a landscape accompanied by a cherub riding on an eagle.

History & Discoveries

  Six Special Rooms by Brumidi
By sarah davis |July 2, 2019
Brumidi worked on an impressive number of projects in the U.S. Capitol, including: the House Committee on Agriculture room, Lyndon B. Johnson Room, Senate Reception Room, the President's Room, the Committee on Naval Affairs room and the Senate Committee on Military Affairs room.
    The moon and a statue of a person.

History & Discoveries

  Haunted Halls of Congress: 5 Creepy Capitol Legends
By erin courtney |October 31, 2022
Given that the United States Capitol was once expected to be the final resting place for George Washington, replete with a crypt, should we be surprised that multiple Capitol-related ghost stories exist? Discover the myths, mysteries and folklore of this historic American building.
    Sculpture with a clock.

History & Discoveries

  Bells, Buzzers, Clicks and Clocks
By sharon gang |October 2, 2014
In a world where everyone carries a cell phone and some carry more than one, people still check the historic clocks on the Capitol campus for the time of day.
    The U.S. Capitol Building.

History & Discoveries

  Capitol Illumination
By franklin bradley |March 6, 2024
The Architect of the Capitol makes the U.S. Capitol Dome, an enduring symbol of democracy recognized throughout the world, visible to all throughout the night. Learn more about the history of lighting this iconic building including the part of the Dome called the "tholos."
    View of the north congressional stand under construction for the 2021 inauguration.

Behind the Scenes

  By the Numbers: Presidential Inauguration 2021
By erin nelson |January 4, 2021
Every four years Americans cast their vote for president in November and watch as the newly elected president takes the oath of office the following January. Architect of the Capitol (AOC) staff also spend these months preparing for the inauguration at the U.S. Capitol.
    Clock face.

History & Discoveries

  Around the Clocks
By sarah davis |December 31, 2015
All eyes are on the clocks as we countdown on New Years Eve. These clocks around the Capitol campus also get plenty of attention throughout the rest of the year.
    Drawing.

History & Discoveries

  The Lincoln Catafalque in the U.S. Capitol
By aoc curator |April 15, 2015
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s death, AOC Curator Barbara Wolanin details the days he lay in state at the U.S. Capitol.
    Close-up detail of Abraham Lincoln's statue in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

History & Discoveries

  Lincoln and the Capitol
By matt guilfoyle |November 9, 2012
Today, one cannot walk far in the U.S. Capitol without seeing a likeness or connection to President Abraham Lincoln and the tumultuous period he served in Congress and the White House. A good place to begin walking in his footsteps is outside on the East Front in the shadow of the Capitol Dome.
    Crowd in stands.

Programs & Events

  One Team, One Mission, One Day
By sharon gang |September 28, 2012
Presidential inaugural ceremonies at the United States Capitol take a team effort to pull together, and planning for the event begins as soon as the previous Inauguration ends. Take a behind-the-scenes look at AOC's role in this event, including platform construction and a materials infographic.
    One of the four Olmsted lanterns on the west side of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, restored in 2020.

Projects

  Olmsted Lanterns Restoration
By kate holder |February 4, 2021
The large bronze and glass lanterns are located just off Garfield Circle and Peace Circle.
                  Pagination
    Current page1
              Page2
              Page3
              Page4
              Page5
              Page6
              Page7
              Page8
              Page9
                          ...
                          Next page
            ›
                          Last page
            Last » 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