Over time, dirt and discoloration settle on the Capitol’s white stone surface and birds build nests in the building’s intricate carvings. As early as 1899, Washington, DC, loaned the Architect of the Capitol a fire engine and firefighters to freshen up the building’s exterior. The Capitol’s annual bath continued for more than 60 years. A 1930 photograph captures the cleaning with a jokey title: “Not a Fire—Just a Bath for the Capitol.”
