Summerhouse

Built between 1879 and 1881 to offer Capitol visitors rest, shelter, and drinking water, the open hexagonal red brick pavilion is capped with red Spanish mission tiles. Decorative niches, wrought-iron gates, and geometric brickwork define the perimeter, which shelters stone seating for up to 22 people around a cascading stream. Beyond the interior masonry, the arched openings frame distinct vistas of the Capitol building, the National Mall, and tall hedges.