Washington, District of Columbia

National Capitol Columns

Our country's Capitol's former columns still stand

Architectural Oddities, Incredible Ruins

The former columns of the U.S. Capitol date from 1829. (Leah Caldwell/Atlas Obscura)
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The Corinthian capital of a column. (Leah Caldwell/Atlas Obscura)
Photo by | Copyright: http://atlasobscura.com/user/LeahC
(nostri-imago/Flickr)
Photo by | Copyright: Creative Commons
(ctankcycles/Flickr)
Photo by | Copyright: Creative Commons
(katieharbath/Flickr)
Photo by | Copyright: Creative Commons

Contributors: GDI scum, Nicholas Jackson, Dylan, renkessler, LeahC

In 1958, the sandstone columns that had supported the east portico of the U.S. Capitol since 1828 were replaced with newer, marble columns. Unsure of what to do with the columns, the U.S. government held them in storage until 1984, when the Department of Agriculture and private donors arranged to display the columns at the National Arboretum.

The Corinthian columns that once towered over the Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln inaugurations in 1829 and 1861 now sit in a stark, open field supporting nothing but air.

The columns are still in immaculate condition, begging the question: Why were they ever removed? When the Capitol's iron dome was completed in 1864 - decades after the completion of the columns - it was larger than design plans intended. The construction of an addition to the Capitol's east side aimed to minimize the lopsided look of the large dome, leading to the removal of the ornate sandstone columns.

Hours

The Arboretum grounds are open every day of the year except December 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Website
- The National Arboretum

Address

3501 New York Avenue, NE , Washington, District of Columbia, 20002, United States
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The Arboretum is located in northeast Washington, D.C., 2.2 miles from the Capitol. It is bordered on the west by Bladensburg Road, on the north by New York Ave., and on the south by M St. Visitor entrances are located on New York Ave. and on R St.