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

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Winston Churchill Bust is made of bronze and was unveiled in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on October 30, 2013. The bust is located in the small House Rotunda on the first floor of the U.S. Capitol.
The bronze bust of Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) was unveiled in a...

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A virtual Map of Capitol Hill from above
View a map of the U.S. Capitol and other buildings and grounds cared for by the...

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Photo with enclosed area on Dome.
Update: November 2014 Scaffoldin​g and Restoring PhaseThe scaffolding assembly...

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East front of the Capitol.
Temporary House Closure

Corinthian Columns

A detailed view of the acanthus leaves on a Corinthian Column on the Capitol Building.
Overview 

Corinthian columns are the most ornate, slender and sleek of the three Greek orders. They are distinguished by a decorative, bell-shaped capital with volutes, two rows of acanthus leaves and an elaborate cornice. In many instances, the column is fluted. Columns in this style can be found inside and outside of the buildings on Capitol Hill, including the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court Building, the Russell Senate Office Building, the Cannon House Office Building and the Library of Congress.

The exterior of the Capitol Building contains examples of a modified Corinthian column style, including the East Front center portico and the West Front. On the first floor of the Capitol’s House wing is the dramatic, high ceilinged Hall of Columns, which takes its name from the 28 fluted, white marble columns that line the corridor.

Detailed view of Corn Capitals design on a column at the U.S. Capitol Building.
Corn Capitals in the United States Capitol Building.

The column capitals are a variation on the Corinthian order, incorporating not only classical acanthus leaves but also thistles and native American tobacco plants. Earlier uses of American vegetation in the building's capitals include Benjamin Henry Latrobe's corncob capitals in a first-floor vestibule and his tobacco-leaf capitals in the Small Senate Rotunda.

The Supreme Court Building was designed in the classical Corinthian architectural style, selected to harmonize with the nearby congressional buildings. Its monumental entrance, facing the U.S. Capitol Building, contains a central temple-like pavilion fronted by a monumental portico with 16 Corinthian marble columns that support an elaborate entablature and pediment.

In the Cannon House Office Building and Russell Senate Office Building, their identical rotundas contain 18 Corinthian columns that support an entablature and a coffered dome, and whose glazed oculus floods the rotunda with natural light.