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The columns were quarried from sandstone near Aquia Creek in Virginia and transported to Washington on a barge. Old identification marks from the quarry are still visible on some of the stones.[1]
They were originally built as part of the east portico of the Capitol in 1828, long before the familiar Capitol dome was completed. However, when the dome was completed in 1866, it appeared inadequately supported by the columns, because the iron dome was significantly larger than the dome that the designer envisioned. To correct this visual illusion, an addition to the east side of the Capitol was constructed in 1958 and the columns were removed.[1]
Transfer to Arboretum
The National Capitol Columns
During the 1980s, Arboretum benefactor Ethel Garrett took up the cause of establishing a permanent home for the columns. Russell Page, a landscape designer and close friend of Garrett's, visited the Arboretum in September 1984, only months before his death. He determined that the east side of the Ellipse Meadow would be an ideal location, as the columns would be in scale with the more than 20 acres (8.1 ha) of open meadow available at the site.[1]
The columns were relocated to this site, and set on a foundation of stones from the steps that were originally on the east side of the Capitol. A reflecting pool, fed by a small rivulet of water running down a channel in the steps, reflects the columns and provides sound and movement.[1]
A capital, or top portion, of one of the columns is located elsewhere in the meadow, so that visitors can see the detail that the stone carver incorporated into the design. Acanthus leaves are clearly visible, and the many layers of paint applied while the column was in place at the Capitol are visible on portions of the stone.[1]
Two missing columns
One of the missing columns
Only 22 of the original 24 columns stand in the Ellipse Meadow. The remaining two columns are damaged, and rest at the summit of Mount Hamilton, inside the Arboretum's Azalea Collection. Both are cracked in half and neither has a base or capital.
national, capitol, columns, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations, additional, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, j. This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources National Capitol Columns news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2011 The National Capitol Columns are a monument in Washington D C s National Arboretum It is an arrangement of twenty two Corinthian columns which were a part of the United States Capitol from 1828 to 1958 placed amid 20 acres 8 1 ha of open meadow known as the Ellipse Meadow 1 Columns and pool Contents 1 Original use 2 Transfer to Arboretum 3 Two missing columns 4 References 5 External linksOriginal use EditThe columns were quarried from sandstone near Aquia Creek in Virginia and transported to Washington on a barge Old identification marks from the quarry are still visible on some of the stones 1 They were originally built as part of the east portico of the Capitol in 1828 long before the familiar Capitol dome was completed However when the dome was completed in 1866 it appeared inadequately supported by the columns because the iron dome was significantly larger than the dome that the designer envisioned To correct this visual illusion an addition to the east side of the Capitol was constructed in 1958 and the columns were removed 1 Transfer to Arboretum Edit The National Capitol ColumnsDuring the 1980s Arboretum benefactor Ethel Garrett took up the cause of establishing a permanent home for the columns Russell Page a landscape designer and close friend of Garrett s visited the Arboretum in September 1984 only months before his death He determined that the east side of the Ellipse Meadow would be an ideal location as the columns would be in scale with the more than 20 acres 8 1 ha of open meadow available at the site 1 The columns were relocated to this site and set on a foundation of stones from the steps that were originally on the east side of the Capitol A reflecting pool fed by a small rivulet of water running down a channel in the steps reflects the columns and provides sound and movement 1 A capital or top portion of one of the columns is located elsewhere in the meadow so that visitors can see the detail that the stone carver incorporated into the design Acanthus leaves are clearly visible and the many layers of paint applied while the column was in place at the Capitol are visible on portions of the stone 1 Two missing columns Edit One of the missing columnsOnly 22 of the original 24 columns stand in the Ellipse Meadow The remaining two columns are damaged and rest at the summit of Mount Hamilton inside the Arboretum s Azalea Collection Both are cracked in half and neither has a base or capital References Edit a b c d e f National Capitol Columns Official website The United States National Arboretum 1 April 2010 Retrieved 1 May 2011 External links Edit Media related to National Capitol Columns at Wikimedia Commons This article incorporates public domain material from The United States National Arboretum National Capitol Columns United States Department of Agriculture Retrieved 2010 11 12 38 54 37 N 76 58 03 W 38 91023 N 76 96754 W 38 91023 76 96754 This article about a location in Washington D C is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Capitol Columns amp oldid 1039057494, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
