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The Capitol Grounds Superintendent's Office for the Architect of the Capitol is responsible for preserving and maintaining approximately 274 acres of landscape, including plantings and infrastructure, across Capitol Hill. On a daily basis, the staff is involved in routine and cyclic landscape maintenance such as mowing lawns, weeding and watering seasonal plantings, comprehensive tree care, as well as the upkeep of the grounds' ornamental fountains, statuary, infrastructure, vehicles, and equipment.

Much of its support work is directed toward the maintenance of miles of sidewalks, drives, and parking lots, operation of irrigation systems and the preservation maintenance of historic structures.

The AOC Capitol Grounds Superintendent's Office also provides snow and ice removal, trash collection/recycling from the grounds and buildings. They provide support for major events on the Capitol Grounds (such as the annual December Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Capitol's West Front lawn and the Summer Concert Series.) that includes the setup of security fencing and a variety of tasks in an effort to provide a safe and aesthetically pleasing experience for Capitol visitors.

Capitol Grounds Superintendent’s Office

Capitol Grounds Superintendent’s Office

The U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory

The U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is a living plant museum that informs visitors about the importance, and often irreplaceable value, of plants to the well-being of humans and to earth's fragile ecosystems. More than 200 years ago, George Washington had a vision for the capital city of the United States that included a botanic garden that would demonstrate and promote the importance of plants to the young nation. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1820, the U.S. Botanic Garden is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. Since 1934, it has been administered through the Architect of the Capitol.

Many of America's founders were also farmers, and they understood that plants were a vital resource. They ensured that a national botanic garden was included in the new capital; among its purposes were to collect specimens from around the nation and the world and to study them to derive their benefits in food, medicine, and manufacturing.

The U.S. Botanic Garden has its origin in the Columbian Institute, which was formed in 1816; in 1820 Congress established for it a garden west of the Capitol Grounds, on the site now occupied by the Ulysses S. Grant memorial and the Capitol Reflecting Pool. This garden was in operation until 1837. In 1842, the United States Exploring Expedition returned from the South Seas with living plants from around the globe. The collection was kept in a greenhouse near the Old Patent Office Building until 1850, when a new greenhouse was built on the Columbian Institute's garden site.

The present Botanic Garden complex is located along the north and south sides of Independence Avenue between First Street and Third streets, SW. It includes Bartholdi Park, which was created in 1932; the Conservatory, completed in 1933; and the National Garden, which opened in 2006. A plant production and support facility opened in Anacostia in 1993.

All photographs courtesy Architect of the Capitol unless otherwise noted.