The Capital Building

Address	E. Capitol St. and 1st St.
Admissions	Free
Hours	9:00 am – 4:30 pm Mon.-Sat.
Phone	202-225-6827
Website	www.aoc.gov

The U.S. Capital Building is a masterpiece within itself. However, you’ll also find majestic paintings, sculptors, and other fine works of art that depict various periods in American history distributed throughout the building’s interior. The gem of the Capital Building is the Rotunda – a 96-foot wide circular hall with a 180-foot high dome like ceiling. The dome, which was completed during the Civil War, is a familiar sight from outside the Capital Building. The dome’s interior was painted by Constantino Brumidi.
The most famous component of the mural is "The Apotheosis of George Washington", which consist of a portrait of George Washington surrounded by Roman gods. The gods are said to be watching over the progress of the nation. Brumidi is considered the Michelangelo of the Capital for his marvelous contributions to its splendor. The Rotunda is located near the entrance of the Capital Building as is usually the first stop on the tour. Other stops include the Old Supreme Court Chamber and the National Statuary Hall. The Old Supreme Court Chamber, which is quite a spectacle, has been restored to its 19th century appearance. The National Statuary Hall was originally the Chamber of the House of Representatives. It became the Statuary Hall in 1864. Each U.S. state was asked to contribute two statues each. Today, there are a total of 97 statues. (Nevada, New Mexico and North Dakota only contributed one statue each.) The statues honor individuals of historical significance.

Tours of the Capital Building last about 30 minutes. Getting tickets is a bit of a hassle. The ticket office (located on the southwest corner of the Capital grounds) distributes a limited number of free tickets daily. Tickets are first come first serve. Furthermore, every person in your party must be present at the time you receive your tickets. Tickets go fast so it is generally recommended that you get in line outside the ticket office prior to when the doors open at 9:00 am. Tickets are for various time slots throughout the day. Therefore, you’ll have to wait and see what time your tour starts. If you have a large group with you (example: a school field trip) you may arrange for a private tour 1 month in advance by contacting your local congressional office.

Tours of the Senate Gallery and the House Gallery are also available. However, you’ll need to request separate passes directly from your Senator or Representative. The Senate Gallery is only open to visitors when it is in session. Children under six are not permitted. Flags are flown from the north wing of the Capital Building when the Senate is in session and from the south wing when the House is in session. If you’re lucky both will be in session during your tour of the Capital Building.