The Capitol stones

The sandstone, granite and marble blocks were once part of the east facade of the U.S. Capitol, where they stood for decades as a witness to history. But when the 1958 renovation of Washington’s grandest building began, these stones, which date to the reconstruction of the building after it burned during the War of 1812, were dumped near an unnamed trail in Rock Creek Park. The rocks are piled high, like an ancient ruin; some have gathered moss and feature decorative elements like cornices or inscriptions by the builders. It’s best to experience the site with the reverence of a peaceful place, a bit like a cemetery — after all, it’s the final resting place for the stones that housed democracy.

— M.J.