About the Project 

The Capitol Visitor Center opened to the public on December 2, 2008.  Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, House Minority Leader Boehner, and Acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers commemorated its opening with a ceremony in Emancipation Hall.  + View Photo Slideshow |  + View Opening Ceremony (embedded video). Visitors to the U.S. Capitol can also now find expanded information about visiting the Capitol at the new Capitol Visitor Center web site at: http://www.visitthecapitol.gov.   Visit the web site now to learn about booking tours, amenities at the Visitor Center, the Exhibition Hall and tips for visiting the Capitol. 

From its inception, the Capitol Visitor Center has been conceived as an extension of the Capitol that welcomes visitors to the seat of American government. At nearly 580,000 square feet, the CVC is the largest project in the Capitol’s 215-year history and is approximately three quarters the size of the Capitol itself. The entire facility is located underground on the east side of the Capitol so as not to detract from the appearance of the Capitol and of the grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1874. The planting of 85 new trees, the restoration of historic fountains, lanterns and seat walls, and the addition of skylights, water features and granite pavers across the East Front Plaza will all serve to revitalize the historic landscape.

Additional Resources:

www.visitthecapitol.gov - Website for the Capitol Visitor Center and information about visiting the U.S. Capitol.