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Capitol Police at 202.225.4200. Restaurants and Dining Capitol Visitor Center Restaurant House Office Building Restaurants Library of Congress Restaurants Senate Office Building Restaurants Supreme Court Building Restaurant Restrooms and Water Fountains Single-Stall Restrooms Summerhouse Drinking Fountains … First Aid Office of Attending Physician Locations Getting Here U.S. Capitol Campus Map Gift Shops Capitol Visitor Center Gift Shops Library of Congress Gift Shop Supreme Court Building Gift Shop U.S. Botanic Garden Gift Shop U.S. House of …
Looking for how to get here, where to eat and where to shop? Below are some available options for visitors to the U.S. Capitol and other campus buildings.
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The hexagon is 25 feet across and the basin measures 85 feet by 100 feet. From the oval basin the water is piped underground to three sculpted stone bubbler fountains in the north wall of the terrace. The scalloped rims of their tiered basins repeat the pattern of the large fountain above. From there the water is again piped underground to the lower level of the 180-foot-by-80-foot reflecting pool. The present lighting display is comprised of 114 underwater …
The Senate Fountain, a hexagonal granite monolith with high jets of water spouting from its center, is surrounded by six smaller jets on a lower level.
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Image Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens In 2018, Bartholdi Gardens achieved SITES Gold certification for its sustainability strategies. Created in 1932 when the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) was relocated, the park was renamed in 1985 after the sculptor of the historic "Fountain of Light and Water" located at its center, …
Bartholdi Gardens serves as a home landscape demonstration garden and showcases innovative plant combinations in a variety of styles and design themes.
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Image Lower Senate Fountain Cherry Trees Site of two varieties: Japanese flowering ( Prunus serrulata ) and Yoshino ( Prunus x yedoensis ). … Site of two varieties: Japanese flowering ( Prunus serrulata ) and Yoshino ( Prunus x yedoensis ). …
Site of two varieties: Japanese flowering ( Prunus serrulata) and Yoshino ( Prunus x yedoensis).
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Contemporary Masonic practice included the laying of an inscribed metal plate along with a cornerstone. Caleb Bentley, a Quaker clockmaker and silversmith who lived in Georgetown not far from Suter's Fountain Inn, where the commissioners held their meetings, made the silver plate for the Capitol
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Image House Garage Fountain Cherry Trees Site of one variety: Japanese flowering ( Prunus serrulata ). … Site of one variety: Japanese flowering ( Prunus serrulata ). …
Site of one variety: Japanese flowering ( Prunus serrulata).
Behind the Scenes
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Recent historical research has confirmed that the Architect of the Capitol is home to the first federal government photography office, what is today called the AOC Photography and Technical Imaging Branch.
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Passersby enjoy the play of the jets of water on the majestic, bearded and muscular king of the sea; his sons the tritons blowing conches; the frolicking, horseback-riding Nereids (sea nymphs); and the water-spouting turtles, frogs and sea serpent, placed in front of a grotto-like wall. The tritons
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The Architect of the Capitol's repair and renovation of the Summerhouse fountain and surrounding landscape is complete. Additional landscape improvements to the grotto and surrounding planting beds will continue into the spring of 2024.
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The fountain in the center of the building originally provided drinking water piped from a spring. The six small metal fittings around the fountain's upper perimeter secured chains that are believed to have held drinking cups or ladles. Three individual drinking fountains connected to the filtered city water supply now provide drinking water, and the central fountain is used only for display. The water supply for the grotto was originally provided by a runoff stream from a drinking fountain at the Capitol's west entrance. Later, a city-water stream was made to flow …
Construction on the Summerhouse began in 1879 and was completed in late 1880 or early 1881 by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
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Some of Olmsted's significant hardscape elements can be found on the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol . Restoration and modernization work was completed as part of the building of the Capitol Visitor Center . The fountains and lanterns are fully modernized , and new technologies, such as the fountain's water pressure levels, are tied to an anemometer that lowers the water pressure as winds rise. The terrace walls that wrap around the Capitol to the north, west and south are constructed largely of Lee Massachusetts …
In 1874, Frederick Law Olmsted was charged with devising a comprehensive landscape scheme for the U.S. Capitol. Olmsted's major concern was the visual presentation of the Capitol Building and the support of its daily functions.
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During your visit, learn about the many memorial and commemorative trees, statuary and historic fountains while reducing your carbon footprint. The AOC's Capitol Grounds and Arboretum team showcases environmentally friendly options of gardening including an electric bike for efficient transportation and operations. At home, try to use eco-friendly modes of transportation like walking, cycling, …
At the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), the Capitol Grounds and Arboretum team works hard to promote green and sustainable practices around the Capitol campus.
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Image Summer at the U.S. Capitol Summer in Washington, D.C. brings heat, humidity and families on vacation. Across the Capitol campus, visitors can find relief in the cool shade of thousands of trees and aquatic inspiration from more than 20 water features. What can visitors see and do in summer? Fountains Although the water features maintained by the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) are not designed for humans to recreate in, several crowd-pleasing pools of cool are located near the U.S. Capitol including the Capitol Reflecting Pool , Senate Park fountain , the Court of Neptune and the U.S Botanic …
What can visitors see and do in summer? Fountains Although the water features maintained by the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) are not designed for humans to recreate in, several crowd-pleasing pools of cool are located near the U.S. Capitol including the Capitol Reflecting Pool, Senate Park
History & Discoveries
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By Sarah Davis | June 20, 2018 History & Discoveries Calm and Collected Waters Fountains and formal pools of water abound on the U.S. Capitol campus in Washington, D.C. These small areas of urban "blue space" may provide other benefits though, including mental tranquility and Summer officially starts this week and the weather in Washington, D.C., is getting warmer. While water features …
Summer officially starts this week and the weather in Washington, D.C., is getting warmer. While water features on the U.S. Capitol campus look cool and refreshing, they aren't designed for humans to play in. These small areas of urban "blue space" may provide other benefits though, including mental
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The Architect of the Capitol's commitment to sustainability is demonstrated through our robust energy conservation and sustainability programs. The agency incorporates sustainable design and construction practices into the major projects executed throughout Capitol Hill.
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The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) Conservatory reopened to the public today, April 1, marking a full reopening of all areas of the USBG.
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The Capitol Power Plant provides steam and chilled water used to heat and cool buildings throughout the U.S. Capitol campus.
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The white marble Peace Monument was erected in 1877-1878 to commemorate the naval deaths at sea during the Civil War.
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He called the fountains Olmsted built on the east side of the U.S. Capitol, "a couple of Dutch spittoons." Beck had likely seen the Summerhouse before it was blended into its surroundings. While it was under construction, the entire brick building was visible. Much of the completed structure would be covered by soil that …
Before it was cut from the budget, Olmsted had begun designing a south summerhouse; his sketches for it have been rediscovered.
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3 ... Image The fountain consists of three separate components: the main basin, lower level basins and the reflecting pool. From the basin, the water is piped underground to three sculpted stone bubbler fountains in the north wall of the terrace. From there the water is again piped underground to the lower level of the reflecting pool. 6 ... Image Number of lion-head spouts on the faces of the hexagon main basin. Water streams into a large circular basin with a scalloped stone rim, over which water spill …
One of the overlooked gems on Capitol Hill, the Senate fountain, is nestled between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol, atop the Senate upper park. A hexagonal granite monolith with high jets of water spouting from its center, the Architect of the Capitol received authorization for its construction
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Until the Thomas Jefferson Building opened in 1897, the Library of Congress was housed in the U.S. Capitol's west center building.
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Image Donald Kline removes failing caulking from the Russell Courtyard fountain. Their work is time consuming and exacting, but, because of their skill, is largely invisible once it's complete. Masons restore marble, color matching the epoxy to carefully hide the seams. They clean granite in the Senate fountains which gets stained because of sediment in the water. And they repair ornate decorative plaster elements which serve as focal points in key rooms in the Senate office buildings. Masonry staff also cut holes in the walls and the floor for needed infrastructure repairs and upgrades, then seamlessly …
Some AOC employees are highly visible, while others work behind the scenes to preserve the awe-inspiring facilities on Capitol Hill. Learn more about the work of this team, beginning at 4 a.m. each morning.
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Much goes into the presidential inauguration at the U.S. Capitol. Here are a few numbers that help set the stage for this special day.
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Botanic Garden have some type of fountain or pool. Popular water features near the U.S. Capitol include Bartholdi Fountain , Capitol Reflecting Pool , Senate Park fountains and the Neptune Fountain , but below are eight others to know around the campus. 1. Skylight Reflecting Pools On the Capitol Building 's east front plaza, two identical pools are installed. The center of each acts as a glass skylight for the Capitol Visitor Center complex located beneath. Image …
There are more than 20 water features that Architect of the Capitol employees care for. Spanning across the Capitol campus, each of the House office buildings, Senate office buildings, Library of Congress buildings, Supreme Court buildings and the U.S. Botanic Garden have some type of fountain or
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Regarded as the founder of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted (1822–1903) is best known for designing the grounds of New York City's Central Park, the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina and the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
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Capitol Grounds. This area includes lawns, parks, historic and commemorative trees, statuary, historic fountains and water features that provide an awe-inspiring setting for the U.S. Capitol. The U.S. Capitol Grounds were designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in a Capitol campus expansion project performed from 1874 to 1892. Olmsted used trees heavily in his design to both frame the building …
Walking around the U.S. Capitol Grounds you can't help but be in awe of the impressive buildings and their historic meaning, what you probably don't know is that the U.S. Capitol Building is surrounded by an arboretum.
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Capitol Grounds , a delightful design he used to accentuate the U.S. Capitol Building. In his submission for the Architect of the Capitol's annual report, Olmsted wrote, "the ground is in design part of the Capitol, but in all respects subsidiary to the central structure." Olmsted incorporated hardscapes – fountains, lanterns, lamps, walkways and terrace walls – into his plan for the U.S. Capitol Grounds. He also was very careful and deliberate with his placement of trees to afford attractive views of the U.S. Capitol. Olmsted explained his aesthetic, and the central role of trees in it, in an 1882 essay, in …
Two original Olmsted trees will be removed for safety reasons this spring.
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"Our gardeners pull, till and amend more than 160 flower beds and plant springtime bulbs. Our maintenance shop is busy hauling materials for the gardeners, cleaning and making repairs to fountains, and servicing the Capitol Reflecting Pool . And our tree care specialists are preparing recently planted campus trees to not only survive cold weather but thrive in the warmer months," said Bechtol. Image Ralph LoJacono, Supervisor of the Gardening Division, is constantly watching the weather, the …
Spring is the season of new beginnings when the Earth seems to come to life again. But it is the year-round planning, preparation and hard work of the Capitol Grounds team that ensures buds bloom, vibrant colors delight and fragrant flowers excite the senses on Capitol Hill. Ted Bechtol, Capitol
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Many of the trees on the grounds bear plaques that identify their species and their historic significance. The eastern part of the grounds contains the greatest number of historic and commemorative trees. At the East Capitol Street entrance to the Capitol Plaza are two large rectangular stone fountains. The bottom levels now contain plantings, but at times in the past they have been used to catch the spillover from the fountains. At other times, both levels have held plantings. Six massive red granite lamp piers topped with light fixtures in wrought-iron cages and 16 smaller bronze light fixtures …
The grounds immediately surrounding the U.S. Capitol are bordered by a stone wall and cover an area of 58.8 acres. Its boundaries are Independence Avenue on the south, Constitution Avenue on the north, First Street NE/SE on the east, and First Street NW/SW on the west.
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Members of our trade teams showcased their expertise in electrical systems, masonry, sheet metal, woodcrafting and painting. The Capitol Grounds and Arboretum team highlighted the Olmsted Plan and the gorgeous features of the grounds, from living trees and plants to historic fountains and walls. The United States Botanic Garden team encouraged visitors to participate in a wide variety of activities. Attendees also got a sneak peek at one of the agency's largest construction projects, the Cannon Renewal . Capitol Hill Day was a success. Adult, Family and Youth Program Coordinator …
The new U.S. Capitol Materials Cart Program showcases a variety of AOC trades, including masonry, sheet metal, paint and wood-crafting.