Friday Fun Fact: How many people does it take to change the light bulbs on the Capitol chandelier?

February 20, 2009

... Just one. Well, at least that is what it took to change all 204 light bulbs in 1969 before any strict safety standards were set in place. Back then, a building worker would be strapped into a bosun-type chair and then lowered by a cable that is connected to a wench at the base of the chandelier. Dangling some 165 feet above the cold hard marble of the Rotunda floor he’d change all the light bulbs. Today, because of so many safety regulations, the method of changing the light bulbs is different. Now, scaffolding is built up to the historical chandelier and then the bulbs are replaced. Luckily, this process of changing them only takes place approximately every 10 years or so. Geez…does anyone know where can I buy these long lasting bulbs??

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