United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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Washing the Capitol

A black and white photograph showing firefighters hosing down the pediment above an entrance on the East Front of the Capitol. The photo reads, “Washing Capitol. Cities: Wash. D.C. Capitol, Ext. Photos.”/tiles/collection/9/9555.xml
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Reverse of photograph with maker’s information and handwritten text reading, “Cities: Wash. D.C. Capitol, Ext. Photos. Nov. 12, 1910.”/tiles/collection/9/9554.xml
Download this image
A black and white photograph showing firefighters hosing down the pediment above an entrance on the East Front of the Capitol. The photo reads, “Washing Capitol. Cities: Wash. D.C. Capitol, Ext. Photos.”
Reverse of photograph with maker’s information and handwritten text reading, “Cities: Wash. D.C. Capitol, Ext. Photos. Nov. 12, 1910.”
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Date

1910-11-12

Maker

Culver Pictures, Inc.

Dimensions

8 1/2 x 11 in. (21.6 x 27.9 cm)

Accession Number

2008.268.000

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

Dirt, dust, and pollution wreaked havoc on outdoor sculpture at the Capitol. In 1910, the fire department was happy to lend a hand with cleaning the pediment above the Senate entrance on the building’s East Front. The central figure in the group of sculptures got the full force of the fire hoses when the photograph was taken. Figures symbolizing the early days of the nation, on the right, have already been cleaned, while those representing American ingenuity on the left await their turn.

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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov