The process of tending to the 150-year-old cast iron and repairing more than 1,000 cracks began in November 2014. The goal is to have the project completed in time for the 2017 inauguration.
The Capitol dome in March 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Workmen continue to refurbish the Capitol dome in March 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Workmen continue to refurbish the Capitol dome in March 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Workmen continue to refurbish the Capitol dome in March 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Workmen continue to refurbish the Capitol dome in March 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Workmen continue to refurbish the Capitol dome in March 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Workmen continue to repair the Capitol dome in March 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Scaffolding begins to come down from the Capitol dome.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Scaffolding begins to come down from the Capitol dome.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Workers have started to remove the scaffolding that surrounds the dome of the US Capitol that is undergoing restoration, on March 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The restoration of the cast iron dome is expected to take two years and cost as much as 60 million dollars
(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images
A detail of the Capitol dome, in January 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Workmen remove paint during an earlier phase of the restoration of the Capitol dome, in January 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
Architect of the Capitol
Workmen remove paint during an earlier phase of the restoration of the Capitol dome, in January 2016.
(Architect of the Capitol)
The cupola of the 288-foot dome is now completely scaffolding-free, as crews shift their focus to the midsection and bottom half.
“There is going to be a renewed sense of beauty, and a renewed sense of the incredible detail that went into building this dome,” said Architect of the Capitol’s Stephen T. Ayers at a House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee on March 1.
The process of tending to the 150-year-old cast iron and repairing more than 1,000 cracks began in November 2014. This is the biggest restoration project on the dome since 1960.
When the project is done, the outside of the dome will have received 1,215 gallons of paint. The top coat color is aptly named “dome white.”
As the exterior work continues, so does to the work of repainting and repairing the inside of the dome.
The goal is to have the project completed in time for the 2017 presidential inauguration, and the Architect of the Capitol says they’ll make it.
Check out photos of the final stage of restoration from our sister station, Federal News Radio.
