The Capitol Columns
For more than a century, 24 massive sandstone columns stood along the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol, framing presidential inaugurations and helping define the building’s grand public face. When the Capitol was expanded in the 1950s, the columns were removed and left in storage along the Potomac, where they slowly deteriorated. After years of preservation efforts and bureaucratic wrangling, 22 of them were eventually installed at the U.S. National Arboretum, where the (0:28) National Capitol Columns now stand alone on a grassy hill, looking almost like the ruins of an ancient civilization.
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More description
For more than a century, 24 massive sandstone columns stood along the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol, framing presidential inaugurations and helping define the building’s grand public face. When the Capitol was expanded in the 1950s, the columns were removed and left in storage along the Potomac, where they slowly deteriorated. After years of preservation efforts and bureaucratic wrangling, 22 of them were eventually installed at the U.S. National Arboretum, where the (0:28) National Capitol Columns now stand alone on a grassy hill, looking almost like the ruins of an ancient civilization.
Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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