What Is Going to Happen to D.C.'s Capitol Rocks?-- Part 2: And, the Corinthian Columns

Along with the Capitol's old Corinthian columns, the stones spent a short stint at the Capitol Power Plant where they remained until as late as 1972.

In the 1980s, the Corinthian columns were removed to the  the National Arboretum where they are still a popular, and officually sancioned tourist attraction.

The stones, on the othernhand were just dumped at Rock Creek Park.

Since then, they have become a beloved landmark for those who know.  Located beside the park offices, they are stacked haphazardly.  Last summer, fencing was put up around them.

Let's hope they can continue to stay where they are as long as they don't pose a danger to anyone.

--Brock-Perry

What Is Going to Happen to Washington, D.C.'s Capitol Stones?

From the August 16, 2022, Smithsonian Magazine "Is this the end of D.C.'s most-beloved hidden landmark?" by Ellen Wexler.

In the hills of D.C.'s Rock Creek Park, hundreds of stones are piled two stories high and have sat there for quite awhile with very few folks knowing about them.  And, they are not just regular stones.  They were once part of one of the most famous structures in the United States.

What makes these stones remarkable is that they were once a part of the United States Capitol, located about eight miles south of the park.

But soon, these stones' time at the park are going to come to an end.  Officials from the National Park Service have ordered them removed for safety, realignment and preservation purposes.

The stones date back to the early 1800s when thye Capitol underwent extensive restoration after Britrish troops set fire to the building during the War of 1812, causing devastating damage.  More than a century later, in the 1950s,  renovations led to the stones' replacement.

--Brock-Perry