Washington, D.C. Landmark

National Capitol Columns: A Discarded Piece of History in the Meadow

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published Wed, Mar 18, 2026 · Updated Fri, Aug 28, 2026

Why it’s cool

These towering Corinthian pillars once supported the U.S. Capitol’s east portico, witnessing the inaugurations of Lincoln and Jackson before being retired to a quiet, open field.

Northeast Historic

A row of twenty-two Corinthian columns stands in a grassy meadow at the National Arboretum under a cloudy sky.

Deep in the heart of the National Arboretum, twenty-two massive sandstone pillars rise from a grassy knoll, creating a scene that feels more like an ancient Greek ruin than a piece of American political history. The National Bonsai Museum is also located within the arboretum grounds.

These are the original Corinthian supports that once framed the United States Capitol, standing as silent witnesses to some of the nation's most pivotal moments.

Why It Stands Out

For over a century, these pillars formed the backbone of the Capitol's east portico. They provided the backdrop for the inaugurations of presidents like Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln.

However, when the Capitol’s massive iron dome was finished in 1864, it became clear that the structure was visually unbalanced. The dome was significantly larger than the original architects had envisioned, making the building appear lopsided.

To fix the aesthetic proportions, an addition was built on the east side in the mid-20th century, and these 1828-era sandstone columns were swapped out for marble replacements. After decades in storage, they were finally relocated to this open meadow in 1984.

Today, they support nothing but the sky, yet they remain in remarkably pristine condition.

Before You Go

The site is located in Northeast D.C., roughly two miles from the Capitol building they once adorned. While the Tidal Basin gets the most attention for spring blooms, the area surrounding these columns offers a spectacular, less-crowded alternative for viewing cherry blossoms.

Visitors can follow a designated path for a self-guided tour that winds through the trees and around the base of the monument. Access is available via entrances on New York Avenue and R Street.

The Catacombs of Washington, D.C. are another historic site found in this part of the city.

Questions worth answering

Why are these pillars standing in the middle of a field?

The Capitol's iron dome ended up being too large for the original design, creating a lopsided look. These twenty-two sandstone supports were removed during a mid-20th-century expansion to fix those proportions and moved here in 1984.

What is the historical significance of these specific columns?

They were part of the east portico starting in 1828. Before their retirement, they served as the backdrop for presidential inaugurations including those of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson.

How do I find the site within the city?

The grounds are situated in Northeast D.C., about two miles from the Capitol building. You can enter the area through the gates on R Street or New York Avenue.

What is the atmosphere like compared to other D.C. landmarks?

It feels like an ancient ruin despite its American roots. While crowds flock to the Tidal Basin for blossoms, this meadow offers a quieter alternative for seeing spring flowers.

Visit Snapshot

The National Arboretum is situated in Northeast Washington, D.C., approximately 2.2 miles from the U.S. Capitol.

You can enter the grounds via R Street or New York Avenue. The columns are set in a large meadow, and a walking path allows for a full tour of the site and the surrounding flowering trees.

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Know before you go

The Arboretum is located in northeast Washington, D.C., 2.2 miles from the Capitol. It is bordered on the west by Bladensburg Road, on the north by New York Ave., and on the south by M St.

Visitor entrances are located on New York Ave. and on R St.

Editorial source

National Capitol Columns

In 1958, the sandstone columns that had supported the east portico of the U.S. Capitol since 1828 were replaced with newer, marble columns.

Unsure of what to do with the columns, the U.S. government held them in storage until 1984, when the Department of Agriculture and private donors arranged to display the columns at the National Arboretum. The Corinthian columns that once towered over the Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln inaugurations in 1829 and 1861 now sit in a stark, open field supporting nothing but air.

The columns are still in immaculate condition, raising the question: Why were they ever removed? When the Capitol’s iron dome was completed in 1864—decades after the completion of the columns—it was larger than design plans intended.

The construction of an addition to the Capitol’s east side aimed to minimize the lopsided look of the large dome, leading to the removal of the ornate sandstone columns. A little-known secret is that these Corinthian columns also look down on some of the most stunning cherry blossoms off of the Tidal Basin.

Follow the path for a self-guided tour around the columns to see all of the trees in bloom.

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