photo by Fritz Myer
Almost exactly a year ago we posted “Any idea why the Capitol Stones have been blocked off?”
Looks like there is finally some action, Bloomberg Government reported:
“Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said the Capitol stones, removed from the East Portico in 1958-62 renovations, should be turned into a more formal exhibit in Rock Creek Park, where they were dumped likely in the 1970s. Norton said she’s heard from constituents who like taking their kids to the stones, which have turned into an unsanctioned attraction a short distance from a walking trail in the park.”
From the Office of Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today requested a joint meeting with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to discuss removal of the Capitol Stones, which were part of the original Capitol building, from Rock Creek Park. NPS recently requested the removal of the stones for safety and preservation, and some are currently being stored in an AOC facility in Ft. Meade without public access.
“The Capitol stones have long been an off-the-beaten-path landmark in the District, interesting to D.C. residents and tourists,” Norton said. “The stones should remain in the location they have been for almost 50 years while causing no harm. Being stones, they’re well-made to withstand the weather and children climbing on them, and access to historical artifacts can only be beneficial for visitors to Rock Creek Park and the District. I look forward to a fruitful meeting with NPS and AOC.”
Previously Bloomberg Government reported:
“Mounds of stone, kept behind a maintenance facility in the park likely since the 1970s, will be moved to a storage facility at Fort Meade in Maryland, where it will not be accessible to the public, a spokesperson for the Architect of the Capitol said. It will take several years to move the large stones, according to a National Park Service official.”
Stay tuned.