George Washington laid the Capitol’s cornerstone in 1793 and since it opened in 1800, it’s been the center of American power and government. 

The building needed to be partially rebuild after the British burned parts of Washington, DC in 1814.  In the 1850s, the Capitol building was expanded, with the massive dome top statue, Freedom being put in place in 1863, after he dome rebuilding was complete.  Finally, the front of the Capitol (east end) was rebuilt in 1904 to balance the two sides. 

The most recent construction project, started in 2001, involved the same east end of the building, for the addition of the new underground visitors complex.  It’s due to open December 2, 2008, 145 years to the day after the Freedom statue was placed on the top of the  Capitol Building. 

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society offers 2-hour walking tours of the exterior of the building every Monday morning, through November.

Spectacular Tour to Remember – US Capitol Exterior Walk
U.S. Capitol Historical Society
200 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC

Meet point – Union Station, at the top of the Massachusetts Avenue exit escalator.  (map it)

Dates and Times – Mondays only, May 19, – November 24, 2008 10:00 a.m.

Tickets – No reservations required, $10.00 (cash only) collected by the tour guide. Contact tours@uschs.org or 202-543-8919, ext. 17, for additional information or to arrange a private walk.

Meet-up point is at Union Station, at the top of the Massachusetts Avenue exit escalator.  (map it)

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Union Station – Red line, meeting point is outside the station or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Paid parking is available at Union Station, as well as limited and time-restricted street parking in the area.

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  ___________________________________________________

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National Symphony Orchestra Labor Day concert
West lawn of the US Capitol Building
E. Capitol and First Streets, NW 
Washington, DC   (map it)

Dates and Times – Sunday, August 31, 2008, 8:00 p.m. Gates open at 3:20 p.m.

Tickets – FREE , no tickets required, but all attendees are subject to a security search

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Capitol South – Blue and Orange lines, or Federal Center SW – Blue and Orange lines, then a 4-5 block walk from either station or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Parking will be difficult in the area, so try to take Metro.

Image – NSO

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The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial at the base of Capitol Hill sits between the Capitol Building and the Capitol Reflecting pool.  The memorial consists of three major statutes and is the largest equestrian statue in the country.

The first statue depicts General Grant calmly sitting on horseback, which was typical of him demeanor during the excitement of battle. He is surrounded by four oversized lions.   Bronze panels on the statute’s base depict infantry maneuvers.

The other two major statues are teams of mounted Union cavalry and artillery troops in full charge.

The cavalry group, shows seven riders charging into battle as one horse and rider has fallen and is being trampled under foot.

The artillery team depicts a three-horse team pulling a caisson and cannon into battle.

Created by sculptor Henry Merwin Shrady, the multiple pieces took over 20 years to complete and 12 years from the time the first piece was installed to be completed and finally dedicated in 1921.  The pieces were forged at the Roman Bronze Works, in Queens, New York.

The monument’s overall marble platform is over 250 feet (77 m) long and 70 feet (22 m) wide.

The monument does not house Grants tomb, as is commonly thought.  His tomb is located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City.

This memorial was the first planned to be erected on the Ellipse, next to the White House, but thinking it would block the view of the Potomac River from the White House, President Teddy Roosevelt objected.   The view was eventually blocked by the construction of the Jefferson Memorial.

Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
1st Street NW, between Pennsylvania and Maryland Ave.
Washington, DC  (map it)

Dates and Times – Open 24-hours daily.

Admission – Free.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Federal Center – Blue and Orange lines, then a 5-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – metered parking is available in the area, but often tough during weekday business hours and when Congress is in session.

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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The Capitol’s 500+ rooms serve both the House of Representatives and the Senate, plus staff.

On the third floor, when Congress is in session, visitors with passes can watch a couple minutes the proceedings where lawmaking, speech making, voting and typical partisan posturing occurs.

Afterwards, visit the Rotunda, with frescoed paintings of major events in American history, the Crypt, and the National Statuary Hall (rub the the shoes of Will Rogers for good luck). And don’t miss the Old Supreme Court Chamber and Old Senate Chamber. 

For the most comprehensive tour, including the House visitor’s gallery, contact your local Senator or Congressman or woman in advance, and request a tour or gallery ticket, depending on what’s available.  Or take your chances and drop in at their office and see if any passes or tours have openings. Your best results in person will be to try early in the morning or request tickets for a time on another day. 

The Capitol Building has countless works of art, paintings, frescos and statues all over the building, and much is visible to tourists. In the Statuary Hall, each state is allowed to place two statues of people of prominence from each state.

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If you can’t get tickets through your congressional representative or Senator,  you’ll need to get tickets at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk and wait in line (often for 3+ hours).

Yet if you can score a pass from your Rep, you might get on a tour led by a knowledgeable Congressional intern or staffer.  And if you’re extra lucky, your tour might include a ride on the Capitol’s rarely seen underground tram.  

U.S. Capitol Building 
E. Capitol and First Streets, NW
Washington, DC  (map it)
202-225-6827 (recorded info line)

Dates and Times – Daily except Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Best to call ahead to avoid any tour cancellations due to heightened security issues or special events.

Tickets – FREE, but first-come, first-served tickets are required.  Tickets available at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk southwest of the Capitol (near the corner of First Street, S.W. and Independence Ave.)  Or contact your representative for passes.

Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. daily. Ticket holders then proceed to the South Visitor Receiving Facility, located on the south side of the Capitol, where their tour will begin. Maximum tour size is 40 people. Waits can be long during peak periods, especially on Saturdays. Best to arrive before the kiosk opens.

Restricted Items – There’s a long list of items that are not allowed on either the tour or in the Senate or House galleries, so check before going. Plan on passing though at least one, and up to four security checks.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Capitol South, Blue and Orange lines, then a 4-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Very limited metered street parking is may be available, but watch for restricted parking signs on streets close to the Capitol.  Most near by residential neighborhoods limit parking to non-resident drivers to only two hours, so parking lots may be the safest (and lowest cost) option. Parking lots and garages can be found in the area, on Independence Ave, in Capitol Hill.  Parking can also be found at Union Station.

Images – Statue of Freedom, State of the Union address,  map – Architect of the Capitol, other from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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In planning since 1998 and under construction since 2000, the three-level underground visitor center is the largest and most extensive renovation or construction project of the Capitol Building since the days of President Lincoln. It’s also the most expensive – as in $600 million.

The Center’s Great Hall will hold up to 8,000 visitors.  It will also boast two theaters and exhibition space for historical artifacts, as well as a 600-seat cafeteria and the ever-present gift shop.

Some of the more notable artifacts will include a Reveolutionary-era George Washington letter to Congress and the original FDR “Day of Infamy” speech delivered on December 8th, 1941, the day after the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and other U.S. installations.

Photo credits: all Center photos courtesy of The Architech of the Capitol
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