So Shawn and I went exploring a bit on their way to the Smithsonian Museum this morning and stumbled across The Summer House. No sign marks it or its purpose, it just sits their on the western grounds of the Capitol on the Senate side. The building is an open air red brick structure that has a pretty awesome water fountain with built in benches. So after searching around the Architect of the Capitols website, I finally discovered its true nature.
The Summer House was built in the late 1800s by Frederick Law Olmsted when he was charged with organizing the Capitol's grounds. It was built to be a resting place for those who were visiting the Capitol. Olmsted did his best to make it semi secluded but als o public ensuring that it was visible to passerbys but shrouded in the trees, bushes, and flowers on the ground. Originally, it was supposed to have chimes that would be moved by the fountain but these were never installed. Olmsted intended for a second Summer House to be built on the House side, but Congress objected and it was never built.
If you get the chance check it out its probably a nice place to kick back and do some of our reading as long as it isn't 103 degrees like it was today!
-Sean F
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