Aquia Creek sandstone

E1632

Aquia Creek sandstone is a historically significant building stone quarried in Virginia, widely known for its use in early U.S. federal architecture including the White House and the Capitol.


Statements (36)
Predicate Object
instanceOf building stone
construction material
sandstone
associatedWith construction of Washington, D.C.
early American architecture
color light gray
country United States
durability relatively soft compared to granite
geologicalFormation sedimentary rock
hasProperty easily quarried compared to harder stones
workable for carved architectural elements
historicalSignificance early federal-period construction in the United States
locatedIn Virginia
materialOf architectural details of the U.S. Capitol
architectural details of the White House
notableFor use in the original construction of the U.S. Capitol
use in the original construction of the White House
periodOfMajorUse early 19th century
late 18th century
proximityTo Potomac River
quarriedFrom Aquia Creek area
Stafford County, Virginia
region Mid-Atlantic United States
requires protective coatings or repairs in exposed conditions
rockType sandstone
sourceFor historic quarries in Stafford County
texture fine- to medium-grained
transportMethod barge on the Potomac River
usedBy U.S. federal government
usedFor building stone
usedIn United States Capitol
White House
early U.S. federal architecture
early government buildings in Washington, D.C.
public buildings in Washington, D.C.
vulnerability weathering and erosion

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Aquia Creek area ("Aquia Creek sandstone formation")
geologicalFormation
White House
materialUsed

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