Welcome to the U.S. Capitol
What's Happening
Aside from the general tour of the U.S. Capitol offered Monday through Saturday from 8:50 a.m. until 3:20 p.m., there are a number of Special Activities and Tours you may take advantage of.
Celebrate Constitution Week at the U.S. Capitol from Monday, September 17 through Friday, September 21. Click here for more information.
A new exhibition of Civil War-related documents and artifacts is on display in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center's Exhibition Hall. Find out more about the fascinating artifacts and documents that tell the story of the building of the Capitol and the creation of Congress in our new online exhibition.
Curious about what happened at the U.S. Capitol and in Congress during the Civil War? Explore our new Website, "Building A More Perfect Union."
Plan a Visit
Due to a special ceremony taking place in the Capitol on Wednesday, September 19, key areas regularly included in the tour of the Capitol such as the Rotunda and National Statuary Hall will not be available for tours on that day. The Capitol Visitor Center will remain open during this time, and guided tours of the Capitol Visitor Center will be available.
Hours: The Capitol Visitor Center is open to visitors from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day. Tours of the U.S. Capitol are conducted from 8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Visitors with official business appointments may enter the Visitor Center as early as 7:15 a.m.
Book a Tour: Tours of the U.S. Capitol are free, but tour passes are required.
The Capitol Visitor Center, the new main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at First Street and East Capitol Street. Click here for directions to the Capitol.
Backpack Warning: Do not bring large daypacks, backpacks or luggage into the Capitol. Any bag larger than 18" wide x 14" high x 8.5" deep is prohibited. Click here for a full list of prohibited items.
Watch this short student orientation video before you visit the U.S. Capitol.
Watch this 3-minute time lapse video of a day in life of the Capitol Visitor Center.
The United States Capitol
The Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. The Senate and the House of Representatives have met here for more than two centuries. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored; today, it stands as a monument not only to its builders but also to the American people and their government.
Whether you are here to get information about an upcoming visit, to involve yourself in the workings of the Senate and House of Representatives, or to be inspired by two centuries of art and architecture, this site will be a gateway to your Capitol experience.
The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is the newest addition to this historic complex. At nearly 580,000 square feet, the Visitor Center is the largest project in the Capitol's more than two-century 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 the grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1874.
QuickLinks »
- Book a Tour
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Prohibited Items
- Visitors with Disabilities
- Visitor Center Map
- U.S. Capitol Map
- For the Press
- Brochures
- Special Activities and Tours
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Architect of the Capitol »
Art at the Capitol
Architecture at the Capitol
Capitol Grounds
Virtual Capitol