Statue of Freedom Park
Bronze statue crowning the U.S. Capitol dome
Atop the U.S. Capitol dome, the Statue of Freedom crowns the building; tourists view it from the Capitol grounds and learn about it on guided Capitol tours.
Statue of Freedom at a Glance#
Address: United States Capitol, East Capitol St NE & First St SE, Washington, DC 20004, United States
Website: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
Hours: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center: Mon-Sat 8:30am-4:30pm, closed Sundays
Admission: Free to view from the U.S. Capitol grounds; guided Capitol tours and Visitor Center access free but require timed passes
About Statue of Freedom#
The Statue of Freedom is the bronze allegorical figure that crowns the dome of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It was designed by sculptor Thomas Crawford and installed in 1863.
The statue stands roughly 19 feet 6 inches (5.94 meters) tall and forms the apex of the Capitol dome, visible from the Capitol grounds and the National Mall. It serves as a symbolic crowning feature of the building and a familiar visual landmark in the Capitol Hill skyline.
Crawford’s design was produced in the mid-19th century and the statue was raised to the dome during construction and renovation of the iron dome in the 1860s. The figure has since been maintained as part of ongoing preservation of the Capitol dome.
The statue sits atop the Capitol dome on Capitol Hill, overlooking the National Mall and central Washington, D.C.
- Height and material: Measures about 19 feet 6 inches (5.94 meters) in height and is cast in bronze, making it a prominent sculptural feature at the top of the Capitol dome.
- Installation date: Installed atop the U.S. Capitol dome in 1863, it was designed by sculptor Thomas Crawford and placed during the Civil War era.
How to Get to Statue of Freedom#
The U.S. Capitol is on the east end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Capitol Visitor Center is accessed from First Street on the east side; nearest metro stations are Capitol South (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) and Union Station (Red Line). Guided tours and timed passes are available via the Visitor Center website.
Tips for Visiting Statue of Freedom#
- Book Capitol Visitor Center tours in advance via the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center website or through a Member of Congress for same-day passes.
- The Statue of Freedom sits atop the Capitol dome-close-up access is not allowed, but the statue is visible from the Capitol grounds and the Visitor Center.
- Security screening is required for building access; carry ID and allow time for screening.
Best Time to Visit Statue of Freedom#
The Statue of Freedom is the bronze figure crowning the U.S. Capitol dome in Washington, D.C., sculpted by Thomas Crawford and placed in 1863. It is a symbol of the Capitol building and American federal government.
Weather & Climate near Statue of Freedom#
Statue of Freedom's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1048 mm/year), wettest in May, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -4° - 6° | -2° | 80 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -2° - 9° | 0° | 69 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 2° - 13° | 5° | 92 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 7° - 19° | 13° | 78 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 12° - 25° | 19° | 104 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 17° - 29° | 23° | 87 mm | - | - | 3.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 20° - 32° | 26° | 101 mm | - | - | 2.8 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 19° - 31° | 25° | 96 mm | - | - | 2.7 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 15° - 27° | 21° | 95 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 9° - 21° | 15° | 83 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 4° - 15° | 7° | 83 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -1° - 9° | 1° | 80 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
