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AOC employees test an underground utility locator on the West Front lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
Behind the Scenes

Article

We Dig Technology

By Erin Courtney
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There's a cool tool that enables the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to quickly respond to requests to dig on the U.S. Capitol grounds. It has eight receiving antennas making it easier for the person operating the locator to get a signal from buried utility lines as deep as 15 feet.
Restoring the windows of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Projects

Article

Preserving Historic Windows and Doors

By Kristen Frederick
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The preservation of the Cannon House Office Building's historic windows and doors allows the building to retain much of its original character and charm, while increasing the building's functionality for those who work and visit within its walls. Learn more about the process.
Close-up view of bronze door handle in the shape of a snake. Once part of the entrance to the U.S. Capitol's House chamber.
History & Discoveries

Article

Cast in a New Light: The Capitol Bronze Shop (1855-1859)

By Kate Holder
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At a critical time in the U.S. Capitol's evolution, there was a Capitol Bronze Shop established by Montgomery Meigs. From 1855 to 1859, the shop helped serve the needs of the Capitol Extension, a major expansion project to accommodate a growing Congress in Washington, D.C.

Highlight

Federal Vases

By Sarah Davis
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This pair of bronze vases, which artist Horatio Stone entitled "Ecce Homo" and "Freedom," have been variously referred to as "Philosophy" and "Invention," or more simply as the Federal Vases.
Senate Move Coordinator Bonnie Holod, who is also the supervisory architect in the Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction, works with Michael Gass and Paul Bosch, wood crafters with the Senate Wood Crafting Branch, to hang artwork in a senator's office.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Senate Office Moves

By Elizabeth Yoder
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Every two years, the Senate Office Buildings jurisdiction takes on one of its biggest responsibilities, the Senate election-year office moves.
AOC House Office Buildings employees work together to shrink wrap boxes, ensuring a safe move.
Behind the Scenes

Article

House Office Moves

By AOC Staff
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The U.S. House of Representatives just underwent one of the biggest transition cycles in recent history. The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) House Office Buildings jurisdiction is heavily involved in the corresponding work — this includes overseeing the lottery process for suite selections to
A bowler hat discovered during the renewal of the Cannon House Office Building.
History & Discoveries

Article

Cool Cannon Construction Finds

By Kristen Frederick
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During the process of renewing the Cannon House Office Building, workers have found hidden treasures that had been lost or discarded by the laborers who constructed the building more than 100 years ago. Here's a small sampling of what has been discovered since the start of the project.
Stone sculpture of a face.

Project

Conservatory Façade and Roof Restoration

By Sarah Davis
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Aside from a modest addition at the rear of the building, the historic USBG Conservatory exterior remains unchanged from its 1933 appearance. It contains two courtyard gardens and 10 garden rooms under glass, totaling 28,944 square feet of growing space, and also has two exhibit galleries.
The Cannon Building rotunda has been returned to its original appearance when the building opened in 1908.
Public Notice

Article

The Cannon Building's Refreshed Rotunda

By AOC Staff
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Phase 1 of the Cannon Renewal was recently completed and as members, staff and the public enter the Cannon House Office Building's historic rotunda, they will encounter something new — but it is actually something old. The rotunda has been returned to its original appearance when the building opened
Person working on a ceiling.
History & Discoveries

Article

Revealing a Tiled Treasure

By Kristen Frederick
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How a successful immigrant family left their mark on the U.S. Capitol campus, and Architect of the Capitol's work to clean and preserve a historic treasure: the Cannon House Office Building basement rotunda with a Guastavino tile vaulted ceiling intact as it was originally constructed in 1907.
Updated Children's Garden opens at U.S. Botanic Garden.

Project

Children's Garden Improvements

By Sarah Davis
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Improvements include a new platform climbing structure, a new vine tunnel, a new digging area, expanded seating areas and additional shade structures. Spaces to dig, explore, plant, water and care for plants remain in the updated garden.
Members of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum inspect a vehicle operating on the U.S. Capitol campus.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Reclaiming an Ordinary Day

By Erin Courtney
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It is easy to take for granted an ordinary day strolling across the beautiful landscaped grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Chirping birds, chittering squirrels, humming lawnmowers and the excited voices of children on their first visit to Washington, D.C., make up the soundtrack of the Capitol campus. In
AOC employees exemplify One Team, One Mission.
From the Architect

Article

Architect's Notebook: One of My Favorite Things

By Stephen T. Ayers
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While Architect's Notebook is often used to write about architectural features found on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., this time it's about Stephen Ayers' favorite and most important part of this organization: AOC employees! More specifically, their giving and generous spirit.
Participants and instructors after lunch at Eco City Farm.
Doing Good

Article

U.S. Botanic Garden Helps Veterans with Urban Farming

By Devin Dotson
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Armed to Urban Farm is a new program presented by the U.S. Botanic Garden and the National Center for Appropriate Technology to teach veterans about urban farming careers.
AOC Director of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum searches the Willamette National Forest in Oregon for the perfect U.S. Christmas Tree.
Programs & Events

Article

A 'Noble' Decision in Oregon: Selecting the Capitol Christmas Tree

By Jim Kaufmann
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The Architect of the Capitol selects the annual U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in consultation with the United States Forest Service.
"Declaration of Independence" scene from the Frieze of American History found in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
History & Discoveries

Article

Artfully Yours, John Adams

By Sarah Davis
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John Adams was born on October 30, 1735, in Massachusetts. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, a diplomat in Europe and would go on to become the first vice president, and second president, of the United States of America. Similar to many other Founding Fathers, Adams appears in several
Exterior of a building.

Project

Russell Exterior Envelope Project

By Sarah Davis
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The Architect of the Capitol, in conjunction with the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, has completed a three-sequence restoration project to preserve the exterior envelope of the century-old building.

Highlight

Flight 93 Memorial Plaque

By Sarah Davis
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Congress authorized this memorial plaque to commemorate the heroic acts carried out by the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
Taking a photo in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for social media.

Basic page

Social Media Directory

By Sarah Davis
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AOC Social Media Facebook Flickr Instagram @uscapitol LinkedIn 𝕏 @uscapitol 𝕏 @aochiring YouTube U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Social Media Facebook Instagram @visitthecapitol 𝕏 @visitthecapitol YouTube U.S. Botanic Garden Social Media Facebook Instagram @usbotanicgarden 𝕏 @usbotanicgarden YouTube
Display of items harvested from the 2018 AOC victory gardens at the Library of Congress.
Public Notice

Article

Harvesting Hope: Continuing Our Tradition of Helping Others

By AOC Staff
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Building on the success of last year's War Garden project, the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) gardening team who care for the Library of Congress buildings and grounds, identified and, in some cases, created additional beds to grow vegetables on the U.S. Capitol campus. To view the team's handy

Highlight

A Cascade of Books

By Sarah Davis
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A Cascade of Books by Frank Eliscu is a bronze sculptural screen that rises five stories above the main entrance to the James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of Congress. Measuring approximately 50 feet high by 35 feet wide, it consists of 98 open books, with some as large as five feet wide
AOC Capitol Building jurisdiction employee proudly sporting their bump caps.
Behind the Scenes

Article

Making Heads Safer, One Bump Cap at a Time

By Cristin O'Brien
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The men and women who carry out the mission of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to serve, preserve and inspire are frequently in full view of the public. And then there are the staff that work behind the scenes, in corridors, crawlspaces and nooks that resemble secret passageways. These hidden
Map of Washington, D.C., in 1861.
History & Discoveries

Article

Profile in History: Job W. Angus

By Franklin Bradley
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The night before his assassination, President Lincoln dreamed that he was standing in a ship under full sail, rapidly approaching an indefinite shore. He reported having this dream before every major event of his presidency. Although those dreams were surely symbolic, Lincoln entered and left
Members of the U.S. Botanic Garden and U.S. Green Building Council in Bartholdi Park with the SITES Gold Certification.
Public Notice

Article

Renovated Bartholdi Park Achieves SITES Gold Certification

By USBG Staff
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U.S. Botanic Garden's renovated Bartholdi Park showcases sustainable gardening, achieves SITES Gold certification The renovation of Bartholdi Park at the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is complete, and the new garden is a showcase of sustainable gardening. Created in 1932, Bartholdi Park has
A visitor guide interacts with guests in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center's Emancipation Hall.
Behind the Scenes

Article

By the Numbers: Capitol Visitor Center

By Laura Trivers
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The Capitol Visitor Center serves as the main entrance for visitors to the U.S. Capitol. It is a facility rich with informational exhibits, two gift shops, a cafe and two orientation theaters to enhance the visitor experience. AGE 10-YEARS OLD In December 2018, the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) will
Circular fountain on the U.S. Capitol's West Front.
History & Discoveries

Article

Calm and Collected Waters

By Sarah Davis
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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
The Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.
From the Architect

Article

Architect's Notebook: Finding Comfort In Balance

By Stephen T. Ayers
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It is human nature to try to find order and balance in our surroundings. One of the ways I do this in my own life is to be as organized as possible. My desk is proof of this as it is always arranged neatly with nothing out of place. This gives me a sense of ease so I can focus on other tasks at hand
Official painted portrait of 11th Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers.

Person

Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP

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Nominated February 24, 2010; Confirmed by the U.S. Senate May 12, 2010; Retired November 23, 2018. On February 24, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Stephen T. Ayers to serve as the 11th Architect of the Capitol. On May 12, 2010, the United States Senate, by unanimous consent, confirmed Mr

Highlight

POW/MIA Chair of Honor

By Sarah Davis
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In November 2017 a Chair of Honor was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center's Emancipation Hall to commemorate American service men and women who are prisoners of war or missing in action (POW/MIA). This chair is one of the original ordered in 1857 for the new House Chamber.
Exterior view of a building.

Project

Supreme Court Façade Restoration - North, South and East

By Sarah Davis
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The stone was cleaned to remove general soil, black gypsum crusts, biological deposits and copper stains. The mortar and sealants in the joints of the marble were replaced and the non-functional bird deterrent system was replaced. General cleaning used low-pressure water and environmentally friendly