Unconventional Capitol Facts

Capitol tours are pretty neat, but most tour guides stick to a basic set of talking points. Here are some of the strangest little-known facts about the Capitol!

Murder stairs

Through some back hallways near the Hall of Columns you will come upon a staircase that looks pretty standard for the Capitol.  However these stairs are far from ordinary, and are actually the scene of a brutal murder! During the late 1880's reporter Charles Kincaid wrote a number of articles about Congressman William Taulbee of Kentucky.  One of these articles exposed Taulbee’s alleged affair.  This rumor ended his Congressional career but like many former Congressmen, Taulbee decided to become a Washington lobbyist. The two men ran into each other frequently in the Capitol, which usually resulted in little spats and arguments. On February 28, 1890 Taulbee and Kincaid got into a physical fight, of which Taulbee was the clear winner. After the quarrel Kincaid decided to go home and retrieve his pistol.  That afternoon the two men ran into each other again on this back stairwell. Seeing as there were no eyewitnesses, Kincaid shot Taulbee.  Taulbee’s blood stained the marble, and these bloodstains can still be seen today.  Taulbee died eleven days later.  Kincaid was acquitted since the jury saw his actions as self-defense.

Abandoned Tomb

At the center of the Crypt lies the compass stone, a star-shaped block that designates where the four quadrants of the district meet. Directly below the compass stone lies an abandoned tomb.  This tomb was built for President George Washington and his wife Martha.  The Crypt's flooring was originally designed to be made of glass so that visitors could view the first President’s tomb.  Washington specified in his will that he was to be buried with his wife at their home in Mount Vernon instead. The tomb now remains empty.

Constaggini’s Revenge

The Frieze of American History is a painting that encompasses the Rotunda. The original designs for the Frieze of American History were miscalculated, so the artist Constaggini was left with 31ft of empty space.  He submitted his designs for this space to Congress, yet they were denied. Constaggini was obviously upset, so he decided to make his mark on the Frieze. Look closely at the picture. On the tree just above the fern is a face! Constaggini achieved his revenge on Congress by painting his face into the Frieze. 

Enjoy your Capitol tours and make sure to keep a look out for these for these odd pieces of history!

-Kiera Finelli