National Capitol Columns

These 22 Corinthian columns are uniformly built, evenly spaced, and placed next to a reflecting pool on an open meadow. Their original purpose was to support one of the porticos of the Capitol building. However, when the dome was finally completed in 1866 the columns which had been built decades before proved to be too delicate. Their new purpose proves to be one of DCs most oddly beautiful - an addition to the peaceful National Arboretum which includes the Herb Garden and flowering tree walk.