United States Capitol
U.S. Capitol
The white-domed U.S. Capitol on Capitol Hill. Free guided tours take you into the Rotunda and the Statuary Hall, and you can watch Senate and House sessions. An underground passage connects it to the Library of Congress.
The U.S. Capitol stands on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. George Washington laid its cornerstone in 1793, and the cast-iron dome was completed in 1866. The Statue of Freedom atop the dome is 6 meters tall. The building houses the Senate and House of Representatives, the two chambers of the U.S. legislature. It is also the origin point of Washington's city plan, from which the four quadrants are measured. Visits begin at the Visitor Center on the east side, below ground. Free guided tours last about an hour and must be booked in advance at visitthecapitol.gov, though a limited number of same-day tickets are sometimes available. The tour begins with a 13-minute introductory film, then continues into the Rotunda beneath the dome, which features the painting “The Apotheosis of Washington” and eight large American history paintings. Important figures have lied in state here. The tour also includes the National Statuary Hall, with 100 statues donated by the states in the former House chamber, and the crypt below. Foreign visitors can watch sessions from the Senate or House galleries during sessions, after picking up a same-day pass at the Visitor Center with their passport. The Visitor Center also has free exhibition halls showcasing the history of Congress and original legislative documents. The western steps are where presidential inaugurations take place. In spring the west lawn is filled with tulips, and this is the best place to take in the full view of the National Mall and the Washington Monument. Across the plaza on the east side stands the Supreme Court (free on weekdays, with lectures available), and the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, completed in 1897, is considered the most ornate public building in America. Its Main Reading Room and the Gutenberg Bible are free to view. An underground passage connects it to the Capitol, but you must first pass through Capitol security. Security is strict: you may not bring food, drinks, large bags or sharp objects. Getting there: Capitol South or Union Station Metro station is a 10-minute walk. It is best to visit the Capitol and the Library of Congress in the morning, then head west across the Mall to the museums in the afternoon.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat 08:30–16:30; closed Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day
Nearby sights
- Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building
- United States Supreme Court Building
- National Postal Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- National Air and Space Museum
- Eastern Market
- National Archives Museum
- National Museum of Natural History