During the week of April 17, 2006, technicians from Hadley Exhibits, Inc.--the company fabricating the CVC exhibits-- were busy making silicon molds of architectural features inside and outside of the Capitol to produce "touch" objects for the exhibits.

After careful conservation work to clean and coat the objects prior to the mold-making, skilled museum preparators Craig Kosinski and Pete Nowadly worked over an entire week to make molds of selected pieces that will be featured in the exhibition: a panel from the famed Amateis bronze doors, a bird's nest realistically entwined in a bronze staircase, a door handle from the House chamber doors shaped like a snake, a round stone ornament carved into the west front sandstone wall, and a stone rosette removed during a previous extension of the Capitol's west front.

When complete, visitors will be able to touch replicas of these objects and gain an appreciation for the marvelous decorative arts that make the U.S. Capitol such an architectural icon.

Craig Kosinski of Hadley Exhibits, Inc. applies a silicon molding material over one of the features on the bronze railing of the private Members' staircase on the House side.	Pete Nowadly from Hadley Exhibits, Inc. pours material for a silicon mold to be used on one of the panels on the Amateis doors (shown behind him) in the Capitol building.

The 10-foot Capitol dome model that is currently under construction is one of the main focal points of the Exhibition Hall.  Upon entering the Hall, visitors will get an up-close view of the dome's exterior and interior.

Ed Watson (left) and Dave Bock of Midwest Model Makers, Inc. from Indianapolis, IN, stand in front of a mock-up of the interior of the Capitol dome.  The final touchable model will stand 10 ft. in height and will include both the exterior and interior of the dome.  They are holding pieces showing details at various stages of manufacture.