Marble Eagle with Shield Magnet

One of the more popular design motifs found throughout the art of the U.S.
Capitol, as well as on the Great Seal, is that of an eagle with a shield on its breast, olive branches in its left talon, and arrows in its right. The Bald Eagle was officially declared the national symbol of the United States by the Second Continental Congress in 1782. The olive branch and the arrows represent peace and war respectively. The shield consists of 13 vertical red and white stripes, recalling the original 13 colonies, with a blue bar above that represents Congress.

The marble used for this magnet was taken from the wing occupied by the House of Representatives. Every member of the House-over 9,000— has trod the east front steps, originally installed between 1863 and 1865, leaving footprints of history. The steps were removed in 1995; and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society has been permitted to use a portion of the removed marble, which is crushed to a fine powder and combined with resin, to create this memento.