A newly released video from Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC) is drawing national attention for revealing a hidden tunnel beneath the U.S. Capitol, which he says may have been used by British soldiers during the War of 1812.
The footage, posted to Moore’s X account, shows the Congressman lifting a floor panel in the Lincoln Room of the Capitol and unveiling a concealed staircase.
The Lincoln Room once served as the House post office during President Abraham Lincoln’s time in office.
Today, it is a historic space used for private meetings and tours.
“Construction started in the 1700s, and there are all sorts of little hidden passageways,” Moore says in the video as he lifts the cover.
“As you saw, I just pulled this cover up, and you can see. You can see there’s a passageway. These were old stairs that used to be here but were closed off.”
Moore states that the tunnel leads to the outside of the U.S. Capitol complex.
Though narrow, the Congressman said he had personally entered and exited through the hidden route.
“Believe it or not, my big self [has] actually gotten down and more importantly out of this hole,” he said.
The Lincoln Room, located near Statuary Hall, sits in one of the oldest sections of the Capitol.
The hidden staircase could have been part of the route used during the British invasion of Washington in 1814, according to Moore.
“I’m told, and I can’t verify this… it’s one of the staircases British soldiers used when they breached the Capitol during…1814 when they actually attacked Washington,” he said.
The attack in question occurred during the War of 1812, a conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain over maritime rights, trade restrictions and territorial disputes.
The New York Post reported that in August 1814, British forces entered Washington, D.C., setting fire to several government buildings, including the Capitol and the White House, in what became known as the “Burning of Washington.”
The U.S. Capitol, originally commissioned in 1793, was still under construction at the time of the attack.
President George Washington laid the cornerstone for the building that same year.
By the time of the British assault, construction was ongoing.
The structure would not be fully completed until 1826.
Moore emphasized that the Lincoln Room, though less well-known to the public, is one of his favorite places to visit within the Capitol.
He often brings guests there to share the room’s rich history and architectural details.
“This is one of the neatest little features that I like to show folks,” Moore said.
He added that the room includes a fireplace where President Lincoln reportedly sat and read letters during his presidency.
The tunnel, sealed at its bottom, features steps carved into stone, weathered by time.
The surrounding walls display numerous signatures, which Moore suggested were likely left by lawmakers, staff, or other visitors who wanted to make their mark on the passageway’s historic surface.
The discovery has sparked renewed public interest in the Capitol’s hidden features.
Though not generally accessible to tourists, these kinds of architectural secrets are well-known to long-time Capitol workers and historians.
Many of the Capitol’s older sections contain concealed rooms, staircases and passageways, built during different phases of construction and renovation.
The tunnel Moore revealed is believed to be original to the earliest construction efforts in the late 18th century.
Capitol historians have documented multiple changes to the structure over the years, including the addition and sealing of stairwells, doorways, and support systems.
While Moore did not claim to have definitive proof linking the tunnel to the British invasion, he made clear that this oral history has circulated among staff and officials.
“I can’t verify it,” he said, but repeated that it is widely believed the passage may have been used by British troops when they stormed the Capitol in 1814.
Statuary Hall, which now serves as a gallery filled with statues of iconic American figures, is located next to the Lincoln Room.
During the early years of the republic, the House of Representatives held its sessions there, making the location a central part of the Capitol’s historical landscape.
The “Burning of Washington” was a significant event in American history, as it marked the only time foreign forces have occupied the U.S. capitol.
Following the attack, Congress convened in temporary quarters until the Capitol could be restored.
The Capitol’s eventual reconstruction and expansion turned it into the vast legislative complex that exists today.
Over time, renovations preserved many of the original architectural features while adding new wings, chambers and office buildings.
WATCH:
