Stewards of the iconic buildings and grounds of Capitol Hill since 1793.

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Abraham Lincoln bust
The bust of Abraham Lincoln features Lincoln’s head seemingly emerging from...

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View of the U.S. Capitol Building from above at dusk
In order to ensure the safety of visitors and staff and to preserve the...

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AOC employee assembling a bunch of tiny American flags for a display
Information for Small Businesses interested in doing business with the...

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East Front Plaza Repairs
AOC is making repairs to expansion joints on the East Front Plaza of the...

Crypt

Overview 

The large circular area on the first floor of the U.S. Capitol Building is called the Crypt. The 40 Doric columns of brown stone surmounted by groined sandstone arches support the floor of the Rotunda. This center section of the building was completed in 1827 under the direction of the third Architect of the Capitol, Charles Bulfinch. The star in the center of the floor denotes the point from which the streets in Washington are laid out and numbered. Located in the Crypt are 13 statues from the National Statuary Hall Collection, representing the 13 original colonies, and the Magna Carta replica and display.

Last Updated: January 29, 2014