THOLOS
 

FEATURE:
 

PASSING THE TORCH
 

DOING GOOD:
 

VETERANS HELPING
 

VETERANS
 

5 REASONS TO
 

EXPLORE THE
 

BOTANIC GARDEN
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

’ ’

‘ ’

BY THE NUMBERS: Things don t slow down just because it s winter. See five reasons to explore the 

U.S. Botanic Garden this season, including tropical flowers like this Epicatanthe Volcano Trick Orange Fire orchid. 

19 

In This Issue
 

1 ARCHITECT’S NOTEBOOK 

2 BEHIND THE SCENES 

The Senate Subway Branch 

4 FEATURE 

Passing the Torch 

11 PROJECT UPDATES 

Cannon Renewal 

Dome Restoration 

16 DOING GOOD 

A Veteran Helping Veterans 

19 BY THE NUMBERS 

The U.S. Botanic Garden 

20 COOL TOOLS 

A tuning fork? 

21 NEW NAME, NEW LOOK 

COVER: This special fork was 

voted the coolest tool by AOC 

employees. Photo by James Rosenthal 

FEATURE: 

Michele Cohen begins her 

tenure as Curator and leads 

the Division’s emphasis on 

education and commitment to 

building knowledge. 

4 

11 

PROJECT UPDATE: 

Crews pour a concrete 

floor as part of the 

Cannon Renewal Project. 

DOING GOOD: 

Electrician Martin Blanchet 

volunteers with Heroes on 

the Water, which helps 

veterans relax and rehabilitate 

through kayak fishing. 

16 
 

ARCHITECT’S NOTEBOOK
 

Inspiration by Detail
 

T

he beautiful buildings on the Capitol campus are full of thousands of 

decorative details. So many details in fact, that visitors and workers 

alike will often see something new each time they are here. This 

richness and depth inspire me every day.

I’ve always wanted to be an architect. So naturally, one of the details that 

really speaks to me is one that symbolizes architecture. It sits, unnoticed by 

most, but always catches my eye, on the north staircase of the Library of 

Congress Thomas Jefferson Building’s Great Hall. There, at the very top, is 

a balustrade ornamented with three marble putti representing the fine arts:

Painting, Sculpture... and Architecture!

A putto (plural putti) is a male child figure, sometimes with wings, used as 

a decorative architectural element. Behind the Great Hall’s Architecture putto 

is a depiction of the magnificent Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens in 

Greece. Whenever I see or think of the putto, I’m taken back to a time when I 

had the opportunity to travel the world and visit the great places that I studied 

in architecture school. 

Both the Parthenon and the Capitol have a deep connection for me. They 

use slight visual cues to reinforce their stately appearance and include fine 

examples of the Doric order of architecture. Both buildings are also situated 

on what was considered the grandest spot in the city, atop an elevated area 

or as Washington, D.C.’s engineer and architect, Pierre Charles L’Enfant 

described Capitol Hill, “a pedestal waiting for a monument.”

I remember walking away from my visits to the Acropolis thinking that 

there is so much more that could be done to preserve and invest in those 

important parts of our history. That sparked in me a true desire to be a steward 

of the great buildings in the world. The Architecture putto with its Parthenon 

behind it is a visual reminder for me of that time in my life, which eventually 

brought me to serve at the Capitol.

Next time you’re walking around the buildings and grounds of the Capitol 

campus and are in need of some inspiration, pause a moment. Take in the 

details, and see where they take you. t 

Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP

Architect of the Capitol 

TOP: Architecture putto (center) with the Parthenon 

represented behind it. Photo by James Rosenthal 

MIDDLE: The Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens; 

and BOTTOM: Me (left) in 1993 on the Acropolis 

with two of my colleagues at the time. Photos 

courtesy of Stephen Ayers 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 1 
 

 

BEHIND THE SCENES
 

Senate Subway Branch
 

WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH YODER • PHOTOS BY CHUCK BADAL 

Craig Smith prepares to 

change out a load wheel on 

the subway to the Hart and 

Dirksen Buildings in the 

Hart Maintenance Station. 

The subway staff performs 

monthly preventive 

maintenance checks to 

detect wear and replace 

the wheels, as needed. 

Two relay switches 

are used to open and 

close the doors on the 

Russell Building subway 

cars. In the subway to 

the Hart and Dirksen 

Buildings, the same 

task is performed by 

programmable logic 

controllers, rather than 

2 physical switches. THOLOS • WINTER 2016 

T

he Senate Subway Branch 

operates two subway systems 

to transport senators,

staff and escorted visitors 

between the Capitol Building and 

the Senate office buildings. The 

systems operate from 7:30 a.m. to 

6 p.m., Monday through Friday,

and continue running until at least 

30 minutes after the last floor vote 

when the Senate is in session. 

The subway to and from the 

Capitol Building and Russell Senate 

Office Building consists of two 

18-passenger cars built in 1958, 
 

 

which have been in continuous 

operation for nearly 60 years.

The subway is powered by motor 

generators in a large silver panel 

at the center of the car, with an 

on-board operator to manually run 

the system.

The subway to and from the 

Capitol Building and Dirksen 

and Hart Senate Office Buildings 

consists of three 36-passenger cars 

on a looped track. The 21-year-old,

fully automated system features linear 

induction motors which are located 

in the tracks themselves, with an 

operator controlling the system from 

a nearby mechanical room.

The Senate Subway Branch 

includes 14 full-time employees with 

138 years of combined Architect 

of the Capitol service. According 

to Eric Fitzpatrick, Electromotive 

Equipment Supervisor, “Because 

of the staff ’s experience and 

workmanship, our system has a 

reliability rate of 99 percent or better.

They also show true professionalism 

in everything they do.” t 

TOP: In a nearby mechanical room, Eric Fitzpatrick, who has 21 

years of experience with the Senate Subway Branch, looks over the 

frequency drives for the subway system to the Hart and Dirksen 

Buildings. These drives power the fully-automated linear induction 

motors in the tracks, which make the cars go. 

MIDDLE: Erick Gage views the automated subway system to the 

Hart and Dirksen Buildings from a nearby control room. Staff 

continuously monitor the system so they can prevent many 

problems and respond quickly whenever they occur. 

BOTTOM: Brian Crupi works on a switch control cabinet which 

allows operators to move a subway car to the Hart and Dirksen 

Buildings from one track to the other for maintenance work. 

“BECAUSE OF THE STAFF’S 

EXPERIENCE AND 

WORKMANSHIP, OUR 

SYSTEM HAS A RELIABILITY 

RATE OF 99 PERCENT OR 

BETTER. THEY ALSO SHOW 

TRUE PROFESSIONALISM IN 

EVERYTHING THEY DO.” 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 3 
4 THOLOS • WINTER 2016 

Passing

the Torch
 

THE CURATOR DIVISION’S COMMITMENT 

TO BUILDING KNOWLEDGE CONTINUES 

TO THRIVE UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP 

WRITTEN BY ERIN COURTNEY 
 

 

 

 

 

Cohen watches the recasting 

of missing pieces from the 

Grant Memorial at a foundry 

in Pennsylvania. 

Photo by Susanne Bledsoe 

Greek philosopher Socrates once said,

“Education is the kindling of a flame,

not the filling of a vessel.” 

T

he heritage assets managed by the Curator Division document

the historic moments and changing attitudes of the American

people. Walking through the Capitol to experience the art

and architecture maintained by the Office of the Curator,

looking through photographs taken and preserved by the

Photography Branch, or reading historic manuscripts and architectural 

drawings managed by the Records Management and Archives Branch

provides an unparalleled education about the work of the Architect of

the Capitol (AOC), our democracy and ultimately our nation.

The Curator Division’s three branches play a critical role by serving 

as the memory of the U.S. Capitol, and all three are necessary to help 

tell America’s story. Collectively they create and preserve information 

on the art, artists, buildings, rooms and landscape features located 

across the Capitol campus. The Division is also the repository of records

that tell the institutional history of the AOC, and its project-related

documents are invaluable resources for the agency’s maintenance,

remodeling and new construction work.

Dr. Barbara Wolanin, now Curator Emerita, recognizes that serving

as the Curator for the Architect of the Capitol was a “once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity.” Her first day with the AOC was September 15, 1985.

Thirty years later, she is widely considered the preeminent authority on 

the art of Constantino Brumidi at the U.S. Capitol as well as a noted 

conservation expert. 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 5 
 

 

 

Wolanin examines a painting 

of Benjamin Franklin. 

Photo by Susanne Bledsoe 

“I loved being on the scaffold, seeing 

the lines and brushstrokes that the artists 

made and working with the conservators,”

said Wolanin. 

Conservation and restoration 

of the murals at the Library of 

Congress, the Statue of Freedom,

and the Brumidi Corridors are 

but a few of the Curator Division’s 

accomplishments under her 

leadership.

She is most proud of conserving 

and maintaining the murals in the 

Library of Congress, which had not 

been touched since the building 

opened in 1897. A century of grime 

and neglect made the paintings dark 

and in some cases made it difficult 

to see the subjects of the artwork.

Today, the vivid colors and details 

pop from the walls and ceilings 

above scholars and tourists walking 

along the mosaic tile floors of the 

Thomas Jefferson Building. “I loved 

being on the scaffold, seeing the 

lines and brushstrokes that the 

artists made and working with the 

conservators,” said Wolanin. 

While conservation played a 

significant role during Wolanin’s 

tenure, education was also a common 

theme in the work of the Curator 

Division. Education is a lifelong 

passion and pursuit for this group of 

employees. Their daily efforts at the 

AOC affect generations of students 

and beyond.

This seems fitting for Wolanin,

who left a teaching position at James

Madison University to join the AOC.

During her time as the Curator,

Wolanin gave hundreds of speeches

and presentations. She developed a

fellowship program with the United

States Capitol Historical Society,

which to date has supported the

work of more than 60 scholars. She 

regularly shared information with the 

6 THOLOS • WINTER 2016 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) guides 

and worked with the exhibition 

team during the development of the 

CVC. Wolanin also worked on a 

variety of publications. All the while, 

she continued to be open to and 

enjoy learning more herself. 

In the 1980s, top mural 

conservators from Rome, Italy, who 

had advised on restoration efforts 

at the Sistine Chapel, were brought 

to the Capitol to support work on 

the Apotheosis of Washington. They 

were excited about the quality of 

Brumidi’s art. Wolanin notes that 

she initially did not realize that 

Brumidi was such a good artist 

because so much of his original 

work had been repainted over 

the years. Thus began Wolanin’s 

education about the Capitol artist 

and, ultimately, the painstaking effort 

to restore his works to their former 

beauty. 

It also led to her highly regarded 

book, Constantino Brumidi: Artist of 

the Capitol. “What the Apotheosis 

of Washington is painted on is really 

just an inch of plaster on a metal 

frame,” she notes. “But restoring and 

preserving it for future generations, 

while a challenge, was one of my 

favorite projects, as was the Statue of 

Freedom, of course.” 

Wolanin is one of the few people 

in history who have climbed to the 

top of the Dome, looked down at 

the feathers on top of Freedom’s 

head, and viewed the stamped “A. 

Lincoln, President” which was 

put there in 1863. “I am proud of 

our conservation of the Statue of 

Freedom, especially in light of how 

difficult it is to reach her,” she said. 

In 2014, Wolanin began her 

transition toward retirement. To 

ensure the transfer of institutional 

knowledge, a successor would 

shadow Wolanin on the job. The 

AOC selected Dr. Michele Cohen 

after a national search. 

Cohen brings an interesting 

mix of knowledge and experience 

as an art historian, administrator 

and professor. She holds a Ph.D. in 

American Art, and her scholarship 

includes books and articles about 

19th century American sculpture, 

women artists, outdoor sculpture, 

the New Deal, and the art and 

architecture of the New York City 

public schools. Early in her career 

she co-authored the Art Commission 

and Municipal Art Society Guide to 

Manhattan’s Outdoor Sculpture and 

more recently published Public Art 

for Public Schools, the first history of 

public school art and architecture in 

New York City. 

After heading up the sculpture 

inventory for the Design 

Commission of the City of New 

York for 20 years, Cohen then served 

as the founding Director of New 

York City’s Public Art for Public 

Schools program. There she was 

curator of an existing collection of 

art placed throughout 1,200 school 

buildings and was involved in the 

commissioning of new art. “I oversaw 

hundreds of conservation projects and 

made some important discoveries, 

including the presentation plaster 

models for the doors completed by 

Herbert Adams for the Library of 

Congress,” said Cohen. 

Moving forward, Cohen plans 

to juggle the duties of the Division 

TOP: Cohen in front of her favorite piece 

of art on the Capitol campus, The Car of History 

Clock, designed by Benjamin Latrobe and carved 

by Carlo Franzoni. Photo by Susanne Bledsoe 

BOTTOM: The Lincoln stamp located on the 

Statue of Freedom. Photo by Chuck Badal 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 7 
 

 

The AOC recently began a project to restore the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial. Photo by Susanne Bledsoe BELOW: Wolanin and 

Cohen examine the Grant Memorial. Photo by James Rosenthal 

“You can sit on a bench and almost feel 

like you are in the action; you can hear 

the cavalry charging. It is like watching 

a movie. It’s so dramatic,” said Cohen. 

while focusing on foundational longterm projects, such as establishing 

a comprehensive collection data 

base and digitizing records, while 

researching and responding to 

everyday inquiries. Like her 

predecessor, she will manage the 

fellowship program and also be 

involved in numerous conservation 

projects.

One such project is the restoration 

of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, 

which has captured her imagination.

Situated west of the Capitol in 

Union Square at the edge of the 

Reflecting Pool, the memorial 

honors the Civil War General and 

two-term President. “You can sit 

on a bench and almost feel like 

you are in the action; you can hear 

the cavalry charging,” said Cohen.

“It is like watching a movie. It’s so 

dramatic,” she said. 

Preservation and restoration of 

the Grant Memorial to its former 

glory is one of many tasks that 

the Curator Division must meet 

in carrying out its overall mission,

which is to oversee the museum, 

historical, documentary, records 

management, archival and related 

educational functions of the agency.

Such a varied range of activities 

requires close cooperation among 

the Division’s three components.

The Curator’s Office oversees 

numerous art conservation and 

maintenance projects, educational 

lecture series, and research requests.

This office is also the initial point of

contact for AOC staff and outside 

researchers who need access to the 

8 THOLOS • WINTER 2016 
 

 

When asked about the skills necessary 

to be a successful member of the 

Photo Branch, Dunn responded without 

hesitation, “Life-long learners with a 

sense of curiosity.” 

variety of text and photographic 

records that the Division preserves.

The Photography Branch,

led by Michael Dunn, creates 

and maintains the photographic 

documentation for the agency, 

providing the visual record of the 

buildings, people and artwork of the 

Capitol campus.

On a given day, Photo Branch 

photographers might shoot 

architectural elements, special events 

or construction projects. According 

to Dunn, “We might have a 

photographer in steel-tip boots,

jeans and fall protection climbing on 

scaffolding in the morning and in a 

business suit and tie for a VIP event 

in the afternoon.” 

This diverse collection of subjects 

is important in telling the complete 

story of life at the Capitol today and 

for future generations. It also ensures 

that the agency has a visual record 

to consult. Recently, the branch used 

30-year-old photographs to inform 

construction crews about details of 

an ongoing project. “A photograph 

taken all those years ago helps us 

to do our work more efficiently and 

save the agency money,” said Dunn.

When asked about the skills 

necessary to be a successful member 

of the Photo Branch, Dunn 

responded without hesitation, 

“Life-long learners with a sense of 

curiosity.” As a new era begins under 

Cohen, Dunn is most excited about 

her freshness of vision, breadth of 

expertise and dedication to public 

art. “Michele has a commitment to 

public art on the broadest possible 

scale. She is developing relationships 

with a global perspective,” said 

Dunn. 

The Records Management and 

Archives Branch is the agency’s 

paperwork guardian, maintaining 

LEFT: Dunn teaches children about working as a professional photographer. Photo by Chuck Badal RIGHT: Photographs taken by Badal 

provide a visual record of the repair work on the U.S. Capitol Dome. Photo by Susanne Bledsoe 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 9 
 

 

an inventory of records; assisting 

with the management of files; and 

keeping historical manuscripts,

contracts, drawings, studies and 

diagrams. Stacie Byas, Branch Chief,

manages a team of four who spend a 

good part of their time digitizing the 

collection to ensure long-term access 

to files. 

The Records Management and 

Archives team is a group that is 

rooted in history, with forwardthinking attitudes. “For us, 100 years 

is young. We are thinking ahead in 

terms of all of the various formats 

of records and materials. We are not 

just thinking about the archives in 

their current state; we are thinking 

ahead to preserving information 

for 3015 or 4015, for the life of the 

Republic to ensure that information 

in various formats will be useful in 

the future,” said Byas.

The start of Cohen’s tenure as 

Curator is exciting to the Records 

Management and Archives team.

According to Byas, “She gets our 

work, and that isn’t always the case 

in some offices. Michele recognizes 

that public art and public space is 

very valuable. She leads with her 

passion for art and ability to share 

and educate others.” 

The Torch of Knowledge, covered 

in shining gold leaf and sitting atop 

the Jefferson Building of the Library 

of Congress, faces the Capitol 

Building where the Office of the 

Curator resides. The torch serves 

as an inspiration and a reminder of 

the importance of a constant search 

for knowledge. It is in some way a 

perfect allusion to Socrates’ notion 

of education. Of course, the Curator TOP: Jim Corbus and Jocelyn Travers, Records Management and Archives Branch, 

preserve historic architectural drawings. BOTTOM: Jennifer Blancato, Office of the Division already knows that! t 

Curator, carefully analyzes art. Photos by Susanne Bledsoe 

10 THOLOS • WINTER 2016 
 

 

 

PROJECT UPDATE
 

Cannon Renewal Project


2015: A Year in Photos
 

WRITTEN BY KRISTEN FREDERICK • PHOTOS BY DEWITT ROSEBOROUGH 

T

he Cannon House Office Building, the oldest congressional office building outside of the Capitol Building, is 

in need of a complete renewal. The century-old building is plagued with serious safety, health, environmental 

and operational issues. The Cannon Building has not received a comprehensive systems upgrade since the 

1930s, and many of the building’s systems are original – dating back to 1908 or earlier.

The renewal of the Cannon Building began in earnest in 2015. Much of the work is being completed during the 

evening hours and on weekends to limit disruptions to the business of the U.S. House of Representatives.

This initial phase of the project, taking place mostly in the basement and courtyard, will be complete at the end of 

2016. The entire project is scheduled to take approximately 10 years, for a total of five two-year phases. For the latest 

updates visit www.aoc.gov/cannon. t 

In January, the west side of the Cannon garage was closed to install the tower crane, utility 

piping, mechanical and electrical rooms, and to perform select demolition in the Cannon 

courtyard. 

In April, demolition of the mechanical 

rooms and systems began in the Cannon 

courtyard. Crews were able to salvage 

historic limestone from these structures. 

In March, the Cannon’s east basement corridor was closed for five months to allow crews 

to begin to excavate the area and install utility infrastructure that will support the new 

mechanical and electrical systems. 

In May, workers placed concrete in one of 

the rooms adjacent to the east basement 

corridor. 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 11 
 

The perimeter of the Cannon courtyard 

was excavated an additional three feet 

to accommodate a future utility tunnel, 

as shown in this photo from June. These 

utilities will service the entire building 

and allow crews to isolate one side of the 

building at a time during future phases 

without interrupting service. 

While the west basement corridor was 

closed, workers excavated portions of 

the corridor, seen here in September, to 

install new conduit. 

12 THOLOS • WINTER 2016 

Much of the work for the Cannon 

Renewal Project is done at night. 

Workers placed concrete in the 

Cannon courtyard in August. 
 

A new emergency 

generator was delivered 

and installed in the Cannon 

garage in October. 

Construction crews installed concrete and waterproofing on the west side of 

the Cannon courtyard, seen here in October, to accommodate an eventual 

green roof that will be installed during the final phase of the project. The east 

side of the courtyard will undergo the same process starting in the spring. 

This aerial photograph, taken in November, 

provided a bird’s-eye view of the Cannon Building 

and captured the 208-foot crane in action. Photo 

by Chuck Badal 

The final step to complete the west basement 

corridor, which was closed in late July and reopened in 

November, was for crews to pour the concrete floor. 

In December, crews replaced 

one of nine transformers with 

the help of a temporary crane 

set up on First Street, SE. 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 13 
 

 

PROJECT UPDATE
 

Dome Restoration Project
 

WRITTEN BY JUSTIN KIEFFER • PHOTOS BY CHUCK BADAL 

he United States Capitol Dome, symbol of American 

democracy and world-renowned architectural icon, was 

constructed of cast iron more than 150 years ago. The 

Dome had not undergone a complete restoration since 

1959-1960 and due to age and weather was plagued by more than 

1,000 cracks and deficiencies. In the fall of 2013 the Architect of 

the Capitol began a multi-year project to repair these deficiencies,

restoring the Dome to its original, inspiring splendor.

Recent work includes the ongoing installation of the recasted 

and repaired balustrade and ornaments as well as the installation of 

the new Cupola windows. Catwalks and other safety measures were 

put into place in the Dome’s interior. 

T

TOP LEFT: Scaffolding installed in the Rotunda provides access to the 

work areas. BOTTOM LEFT: Workers install the newly recasted balustrade. 

BOTTOM RIGHT: Paint is removed from cast iron in the Rotunda. 

14 THOLOS • WINTER 2016 
 

As 2015 came to a close, the process to remove the Dome’s exterior 

scaffolding began. The majority of the scaffolding will be removed this spring 

as repairs and repainting are completed. The scaffolding bridge and tower 

will remain in place until the interior and Rotunda phases of the project are 

complete in the fall.

 Due to the extensive exterior damage on the Capitol Dome, which covers 

the Rotunda, water had leaked through the cracks, damaging paint, cast iron,

stone and decorative elements. The focus of the Rotunda Restoration is to 

remove hazardous materials (such as lead paint), restore ironwork, upgrade 

electrical and mechanical systems, install new lighting, and repaint it to 

historically appropriate colors. This effort began in July 2015 and will be 

complete prior to the Presidential Inauguration in January 2017. t 

For the latest updates and photos, visit www.aoc.gov/dome. 

TOP LEFT: Workers install new Cupola 

windows. TOP RIGHT: Removal of scaffolding 

began at the end of 2015. BOTTOM LEFT: 

Catwalk located in the interstitial space 

between the two domes. 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 15 
16 THOLOS • WINTER 2016 

A Veteran
 

Helping

Veterans 

WRITTEN BY SHARON GANG 

Martin Blanchet has served 

as an electrician with the 

AOC since 2003. Photo by 

Dewitt Roseborough 
 

DOING GOOD
 

P “But it’s not just about the fishing for me. 

It’s about helping out veterans. I will 

absolutely continue doing this until 

they tell me I can’t come back.” 

ADDLE. FISH. HEAL. 

“I like helping people, and 

veterans are at the top of the

list of people I want to help.”

Before Electrician Martin Blanchet 

joined the Architect of the Capitol 

in 2003, he had served in the Army 

twice, first from 1984 to 1988 and 

then from 1997 to 2003. His service 

included two combat tours and posts 

in 13 countries. 

About two years ago at a Fishing 

Flea Market in southern Maryland,

he learned about a group called 

Heroes on the Water, which provides 

veterans with opportunities to go 

kayak fishing. Blanchet is an avid 

fisherman and an experienced 

kayaker, so he decided to volunteer 

with Heroes on the Water through 

its Maryland Chapter. Aside from 

the fishing, however, he decided to 

volunteer because he wanted to help 

fellow veterans. “There’s something 

different about veterans,” said 

Blanchet. “We take care of our own.” 

Heroes on the Water is a national 

organization that helps veterans from 

all branches of the United States 

military unwind using the therapeutic 

qualities of fishing from kayaks. 

Founded in 2007, this kayak fishing 

program gives participants a chance 

to decompress from the stresses 

associated with combat and the 

physical rigors of rehabilitation. 

“We give them a stress-free day 

and an outlet to talk about what they 

might have been through or seen,” 

said Jim Cooper, Co-Coordinator 

of the Maryland Chapter, which 

was started in 2013. “Keeping inside 

what is bothering you can exacerbate 

post-traumatic stress syndrome. 

People like Martin who’ve been in 

combat situations are kindred spirits 

and can help them relax and unwind 

while they’re on the water.” 

Participants receive basic kayak 

fishing and paddling instruction, 

if they need it. The program also 

assists participants in adapting their 

newly developed skills to their new 

abilities. Adaptive kayaks, kayaking 

accessories and angling equipment 

are offered on an as-needed basis to 

accommodate a soldier’s particular 

needs. 

Blanchet, pictured above, as he volunteers with Heroes on the Water, which helps veterans learn to kayak fish. Photos courtesy of Martin Blanchet 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 17 
 

Photo courtesy of Martin Blanchet 

“ We are here to say thank you to anyone

who has served — and that includes first 

responders like the U.S. Capitol Police.

They are welcome too,” adds Cooper. 

Blanchet is a member of the 

leadership team for the Maryland 

Chapter of Heroes on the Water.

With 15 single kayaks and two 

doubles, or tandems, the Chapter 

can accommodate up to 18 people 

on the water. While participants 

paddle by themselves, Blanchet and 

other volunteers may help launch 

them into the water from the 

riverbank. “Anyone who gets in a 

kayak powers it by himself or herself.

If you have no legs, you use the oars 

to paddle. If you have no arms, we 

have kayaks that you pedal with your 

legs and feet.” Volunteers sometimes 

paddle their own kayaks along with 

participants to give advice on fishing 

or to lend an ear if they want to talk. 

All of the equipment and 

materials are donated to Heroes on 

the Water. The Maryland Chapter 

also has a big trailer that is used to 

transport the kayaks to the put-in 

spot for that day’s fishing excursion. 

Cooper says Blanchet is one of 

the Chapter’s most dependable 

volunteers. “He helps with unloading 

the kayaks and rigging them with 

fishing equipment, and then when 

participants arrive, he helps them put 

on their safety gear and gives them 

any assistance they need. He truly is 

a jack of all trades.” 

Day trips are offered about 

once a month at different spots 

around southern Maryland from 

April or May through October 

or November. In addition to the 

fishing, the Chapter provides lunch 

for the veterans, who can also bring 

their families to fish or to watch. 

There is one overnight camping trip 

at Solomon’s Island in Maryland 

which might include a fish fry if the 

kayakers catch any fish. 

Local veterans often find 

out about the kayak fishing 

opportunities through the Chapter’s 

Facebook page. Additionally, 

members of the leadership team, 

like Blanchet and Cooper, reach out 

to troops at area military medical 

facilities such as Walter Reed 

National Military Medical Center in 

Bethesda to let them know about the 

program. 

Says Blanchet, “I love to fish. 

I love the tranquility and the 

peacefulness of it, and I love being 

in nature. But it’s not just about the 

fishing for me. It’s about helping out 

veterans. I will absolutely continue 

doing this until they tell me I can’t 

come back.” 

“We are here to say thank you to 

anyone who has served – and that 

includes first responders like the U.S. 

Capitol Police. They are welcome 

too,” adds Cooper. t 

For more information about Heroes 

on the Water or to volunteer or 

make a contribution, go to www. 

heroesonthewater.org or visit the 

Maryland Chapter’s Facebook 

page, www.facebook.com/ 

HeroesOnTheWaterMarylandChapter. 

18 THOLOS • WINTER 2016 
 

 

BY THE NUMBERS
 

The U.S. Botanic Garden
 

WRITTEN BY DEVIN DOTSON • PHOTOS BY DEVIN DOTSON 

See chocolate in 

its rawest form 

When you enter the 

Conservatory’s Garden 

Court, one of the first 

plants you might see is the 

popular Theobroma cacao 

tree. Not sure if you’re 

one of its fans yet? What if 

we tell you it’s also called 

the ”chocolate tree”? This 

winter, our tree is loaded 

with ripe cacao pods 

growing right out of the 

tree’s trunk. Each orangeyellow pod is the shape 

of a football and is filled 

with rows of cacao seeds 

surrounded by white fleshy 

pulp. In front of the tree you 

may find a Discovery Cart 

where one of our volunteer 

docents will take you 

through the steps that turn 

these cacao beans into the 

cocoa powder, butter and 

chocolate that is so loved. 

Prepare for a feast for the 

senses — there is lots to 

see, smell and feel with this 

cacao experience! 

See a conservation success 

The U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) grows more than 500 rare 

plants and is part of multiple partnerships and programs 

to conserve threatened plants and teach others how they 

can play an active role in plant conservation. Come see our 

Wollemi pines (Wollemia nobilis) and observe an ancient 

species once thought to be extinct until a grove was 

discovered in Australia in 1994. The USBG has joined others 

around the world in growing a collection of these plants 

and many other rare and endangered species to help ensure 

their numbers increase and the plants never go extinct. 

Winter birding 

in the National 

Garden — plants 

as winter food 

sources for wildlife 

The Regional Garden in our 

National Garden features 

plants native to the MidAtlantic region of the U.S. 

In the winter, many plants 

in this garden serve as 

important sources of food 

for birds and other wildlife. 

Plants like the winterberry 

(Ilex verticillata) not only 

provide fruits for animals, 

but also give color to the 

winter landscape with 

their bright red, yellow and 

orange berries. If you take a 

few minutes to explore this 

garden, you might find the 

winter beauty of plants and 

the many birds that depend 

on them in this season. 

Explore a piece of 

American history 

Naval commander Charles 

Wilkes led six ships on a fouryear expedition around the 

Pacific on the U.S. Exploring 

Expedition from 1838-1842. 

They returned with 50,000 

dried plant specimens and 

over a thousand live plants. 

These live plants formed 

the foundation of our plant 

collections, and today you can come face to face with three 

of these living pieces of history. Three plants from the 

Expedition live in the Conservatory: a queen sago (Cycas 

circinalis), a ferocious blue cycad (Encephalartos horridus) 

and a vessel fern (Angiopteris evecta). 

Come in from the cold 

to a tropical oasis 

Even when the weather outside 

is cold and frosty, The Tropics in 

the Conservatory are warm and 

alive with a diversity of plants. 

Go high above the ground floor 

and explore the tree tops in 

D.C.’s only jungle canopy walk. 

See a collection of palms from 

around the world, aerial roots 

that fall like curtains toward 

the ground and bright bursts of 

color from tropical blooms. 

THOLOS • WINTER 2016 19 
 

 

 

COOL TOOLS
 

A Tuning Fork?
 

WRITTEN BY FRANKLIN BRADLEY 

As the temperature cooled down this winter, we asked AOC employees to join a hot (and friendly)

competition — AOC Cool Tools — and share the cool tools they use to get their jobs done. 

very employee, in every job we do, uses tools, from 

a crane that lifts heavy loads to the pen that signs 

the contract for the crane. We received several 

entries, and asked AOC employees to select the 

coolest tool. When all the votes were tallied, it was clear that 

the coolest tool this quarter was a fork.


But it’s a special, and historic, fork.


This simple looking tool is a tuning fork. It consists of a


two-pronged, U-shaped bar of steel. When it is struck against

a surface or with an object, its vibrations resonate at a specific

constant pitch.

Tuning forks are frequently used by musicians to adjust


their instruments. So why does AOC have one — and what


makes it cool?
 

When the Dome was being constructed in the 1850s,

Supervising Engineer Montgomery C. Meigs used the tuning

fork to evaluate cast iron beams made for the Capitol Dome.

To test a beam, the engineer would strike it with the tuning

fork and rest the fork’s head on the beam. The tone produced

would tell if the beam had a flaw, such as a crack or a void. Bad 

beams were rejected and good beams were lifted to their place

in the Dome, where they remain today.

 Modern industry has moved on to more sophisticated

technology, but the Curator Division is happy to have this

unique artifact in its collection. t 

To see and hear this cool tool in action, visit www.aoc.gov/ 

cool-tool. 

20 THOLOS • WINTER 2016 

E

TOP LEFT: Iron foundry of Janes, Fowler, Kirtland Company in The 

Bronx, New York, where iron for the Dome was cast at seven cents per 

pound. (photo circa 1862); and TOP RIGHT: Montgomery C. Meigs, 

U.S. Army Engineer, who oversaw construction of the cast iron Dome. 

Photos courtesy of AOC Photo Branch Archives 

BOTTOM: Tuning fork used by Meigs to ensure that iron placed in 

the Dome was sound, along with copies of Meigs’ writing and pieces 

of cast iron recovered from the Dome during the restoration project 

(aoc.gov/dome). Photo by James Rosenthal 
Photo by Susanne Bledsoe 

New Name,


New Look 

WRITTEN BY ERIN NELSON 

Tholos: The area that houses the lighting 

at the very top of the Dome and serves as 

a base for the Statue of Freedom. 

T

he AOC Communications 

and Congressional Relations 

office published the first

edition of the employee 

magazine, Foundations & Perspectives,

in 2009. Since then we have strived to 

communicate stories that demonstrate 

your commitment to our mission — 

Serve, Preserve and Inspire.

 As we began planning for the 15th edition of the magazine,

we felt it was time for a refresh. We enlisted your help in 

picking a new name and received more than 70 submissions.

As indicated by the cover, we chose Tholos.

Tholos is an architectural term used to describe a round 

structure usually ringed with columns. It was first used in 

ancient Greek architecture and centuries later was included 

in the design of the Capitol Dome. We wanted the new name 

to represent the historic setting of our work, and we hope it 

will serve as a reminder of the important role we all play to 

maintain these great symbols of American democracy..

The magazine has a new name and look — but we’ll 

continue to create content that highlights the diverse ways we 

serve as the stewards of the iconic buildings and grounds on 

the Capitol campus.

Thank you for sharing your stories with us over the last six 

years. We hope you enjoy the latest edition of the magazine. If 

you would like to provide feedback or ideas for future articles,

please contact us at communications@aoc.gov. t 

For more information on the tholos of the Capitol Dome visit 

www.aoc.gov and search tholos. 
Communications and Congressional Relations

U.S. Capitol, Room SB-16

Washington, DC 20515 

The Architect of the Capitol strives 

to meet its mission 24 hours a day, 

365 days a year to serve Congress 

and the Supreme Court, preserve 

America ’s Capitol, and inspire 

memorable experiences for all who 

visit the buildings and grounds. 

Tholos is distributed by the Architect 

of the Capitol primarily for AOC 

employees. Questions regarding 

content and publication should be 

directed to AOC Communications 

and Congressional Relations at 

communications@aoc.gov, 

202.228.1793, or U.S. Capitol, Room 

SB-16, Washington, DC 20515. 

JOIN AOC ONLINE: 

Twitter.com/uscapitol 

Facebook.com/architectofthecapitol 

Instagram.com/uscapitol 

YouTube.com/aocgov 

www.aoc.gov 

Where is this? 

dams Building the John A

e of anctrouth en: Ser nswA

Photo by James Rosenthal