Our Blog

The AOC's Facilities Planning and Programming Division incorporates seemingly small improvements into the design of our facilities and their outside environments, helping not only those with disabilities, but each one of us.

Few traditions associated with Senate furniture are as intriguing as the "candy desk" on the floor of the Senate.

The AOC cares for the benches in the United States Capitol Rotunda whose cast-iron supports and arms were based on a design sketched by Constantino Brumidi in 1859. These benches have also called a few other locations home over the years, including Saint Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C.

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.

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.

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 planting of a tree in honor of Anne Frank on the U.S. Capitol Grounds

Historic preservation tricks using "windows" and "columns" in the U.S. Capitol.

Whether you want inspiration and information for your garden, want to learn about the importance of pollinators or simply want to take a scenic nature walk steps from the U.S. Capitol — the U.S. Botanic Garden's National Garden in Washington, D.C., is a treasure for everyone.

Discover the meaning behind the Car of History Clock in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall. This marble sculpture, created in 1819, is among the oldest works of art in the Capitol. It depicts Clio, the muse of History, holding a book in which she records events as they unfold.

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.

The Capitol Grounds have long been a haven for wildlife, with residents ranging from squirrels to red-tailed hawks to a red fox. But sheep? If it had been left up to one Virginia farmer more than 90 years ago, flocks of sheep might be spotted grazing on the grounds today.

While there may not be an exact "completion date" for our U.S. Capitol Building, there is one day that truly stands out in its history — December 2, 1863, when the Statue of Freedom was placed atop the Capitol Dome 150 years ago, effectively completing the Capitol Dome that we still see today.

Long before the advent of Twitter, Facebook and blogs – there were journals. 150 years ago this month saw one of the most transformative periods in the construction of the United States Capitol along with the historic address by Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg. One individual captured these events both as a witness, and as participant, capturing first-hand details of moments that shaped history.

This is the first in a series of occasional articles, written by the Architect of the Capitol’s Curator Office, about the use of nature in the art and architecture of the U.S. Capitol. This week, they focus on the elements in the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol Dome.