United States Capitol Building

Address: United States Capitol, First St SE, Washington, DC 20004, USA

Website: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov

Hours: Capitol Visitor Center hours generally Mon-Sat ~8:30am-4:30pm; tours by reservation (check site for current schedule)

Admission: Free (tours of the U.S. Capitol are free; advance reservation recommended)

The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. is the home of the U.S. Congress and a symbol of the American federal government. Work on the original building began in 1793 and it has been expanded and altered over two centuries.

Key interior spaces include the central Rotunda, the legislative chambers of the House and Senate in their respective wings, and a variety of historic paintings, sculptures and the National Statuary Hall Collection. The Capitol Visitor Center provides orientation, exhibits and guided tours for the public.

The Capitol was designed and expanded by a series of architects after construction began in the late 18th century; the prominent cast-iron dome was constructed during the mid-19th century and finished in the 1860s. The building has hosted inaugurations, legislative sessions and many nationally significant events.

Sited on Capitol Hill in the District of Columbia, the Capitol overlooks the National Mall and is within walking distance of the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress.

• Construction timeline: Construction began in 1793; the building has been expanded and rebuilt multiple times, including a cast-iron dome completed in the 1860s.
• Visitor access: Public tours are available and typically begin at the Capitol Visitor Center; security screening is required and photo ID is needed for entry.

What to See#

• Capitol Rotunda: A domed central rotunda that connects the House and Senate wings, decorated with historic paintings, statuary and the National Statuary Hall Collection nearby.
• Capitol Visitor Center: An underground facility opened in 2008 that handles visitor orientation, security screening and provides guided tour access to the Capitol complex.
• Former House Chamber (Statuary Hall): A semicircular chamber originally used for the U.S. House of Representatives and now part of the Capitol complex’s historic spaces and exhibits.

The United States Capitol sits on Capitol Hill adjacent to the National Mall in central Washington, D.C. Take the Washington Metro to Capitol South station (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) and walk about 5-10 minutes west to the Capitol grounds; Union Station (Red Line) is also a 10-15 minute walk. Major streets serving the site include Constitution Ave NE/SE, Independence Ave, and East Capitol Street.

Driving and taxi access is straightforward from downtown D.C.; expect short city-center drives and limited on-site parking, so public transit, bike, or pedestrian access from the Mall are the easiest options.

• Enter through the Capitol Visitor Center (the designated public entrance) and reserve a guided tour in advance via the official U.S. Capitol Visitor Center website or through your member of Congress - walk-up visits are limited and tours fill quickly.
• Plan to arrive right when the Visitor Center opens on a weekday to clear security before peak tour-group arrivals and allow time to see the Rotunda and Statuary Hall without the mid‑day crowds.
• Set aside extra time for the Capitol grounds and the nearby Capitol Visitor Center exhibitions; many visitors rush the Rotunda and miss the historical exhibits and exterior viewpoints that frame the Mall and Supreme Court.