U.S. Capitol Building

Of the must sees when in DC!
They offer complimentary tours inside and it was nice to learn about the history here (I love it when they do these tours with insightful information. I am a nerd lover at heart.)
Grand picturesque view!

Majestic building where so much of US history was shaped, and continues to be.
Also where so many great, inspired, and even some ridiculously stupid decisions have been made over the years.
It’s a grandiose structure with magnificent architecture. Built by our forefathers in a Greek style it was meant to showcase America’s powerful new presence on the world stage and establish it’s ideals of freedom. As a very young country we needed to show off a bit.
As others have posted, contact your state senator/​representative ahead of time to get approval and book a tour. The tours are free and they offer some great insight.
If not on a tour walk around the rotunda with all the statues of famous statesmen and notables, buy something at the huge gift shop, or grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria. Walk through the self tour museum area and read about the Capitol’s history, along with the men and women who have served in Congress over the years, while viewing all kinds of artifacts and pictures.
Now if only the members of Congress can get together and put aside their petty differences, stifle the lobbyists and their financial influences, ignore their own greed and need for power, then perhaps they all can agree on things that will actually help America and it’s citizens.
One can only hope…

OMG, why would I not give this 5-​stars? I have loved every historic building and landmark I have stepped foot in Washington DC. After reading the reviews on how far in advance people had to request for a reservation, I was thrilled to get in when we did. Not exactly sure why, but this was a building I never considered touring in all the times I visited Washington DC. I guess I always thought it wasn’t available for tours. Anyway, I am glad my family and I were able to do it. The headsets — how clever! It was nice to be able to hear the tour guide without asking him to repeat what he said because the headsets allowed for everyone to hear him clear as crystal (and not hear any other background noise). This was an awesome tour! By the way, I think they will eventually run out of room from all of the statues in the building. There were so many statues! Apparently, each state can donate 2 and they are massive! Our group got to see the original Supreme Court, which was a tiny dimly-​lit room that is nothing in comparison to what the US Supreme Court building is today. The Rotunda was of course my favorite part, but unfortunately we were right under the repairs, so scaffolding everywhere. The scaffolding obstructed views of original paintings and murals in the room. For those that don’t know, but the Rotunda as the site for the presidential inauguration and where there are laid in state.

The US Capitol building is a must see on any trip to DC. As most others have stated, call/​write ahead to book a tour through your state senator. The tours are free, a smaller size and you get to see far more than the average tour.
Luckily for me, my friend works in the building and was able to walk us around. We stopped by her senate office so we could tour there (and sit in the senators desk)! Then we took the underground to the Capitol building to view the Senate and the House. Because we knew someone and they were not in session, we were able to walk on the Senate floor. We viewed the House through the upstairs galleries.
As to be expected, security is tight, so travel light and don’t bring anything crazy. There’s a lot of walking through the building and some places are off limits for photos, but there is lots of facts and history to learn. Save a couple of hours for this one!

REVIEW #800: A Capitol Landmark Review
Why even review the US Capitol Building? It is really indescribable and one word «awesome» describes it. I am reviewing the U.S. Capitol Building to spread the word that spending time here is a must when visiting Washington DC. With that said, I am surprised that there are currently less than 100 Unilocal reviews on the United States Capitol.
In Washington DC the city orbits around the US Capitol Building. The rotunda is the point in Washington DC where the four quadrants of the city originate. If your under the rotunda, you are in southwest, northwest, northeast, and southeast Washington DC. The rotunda also separates the two chambers in the Capitol: the Senate and House of Representatives. The US Capitol Building was planned as the center of the City before it held its first session on November 17, 1800. Pierre Charles L’ Enfant, the urban planner that I have discussed in some of my previous reviews, planned the US Capitol. He chose Jenkins Hill. President Jefferson reviewed the plan. He suggested calling it the Capitol from the Latin word that is associated with the Roman Temple to Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Capitoline Hill. Several presidencies after Thomas Jefferson, my family and I spent time outside the US Capitol Building during the President Obama administration.
There were two times that we hung out on the US Capitol grounds. They were the times spent after exploring the museums off the National Mall. A neat thing about the US Capitol is that it is the eastern point of a triangle where the north to south line connects the White House to the Washington Monument, the west to east line is the National Mall connecting the Washington Monument to the US Capitol Building and the southeast to northwest line is Pennsylvania Avenue connecting the US Capitol to the vicinity of the White House. This makes this Capitol landmark the center of a nice walk.
When we spent time at the US Capitol we’d do a lot of sitting. The US Botanical Gardens is a tranquil spot surrounded by flowers to take in the US Capitol and it’s dome. And that dome is amazing. However, it is currently covered in scaffolding while undergoing a $ 61 million restoration that is to be completed by the 2017 Presidential auguration. Above the dome, my eyes were fixed on the Statue of Freedom. An interesting fact is that the statue faces east so that the sun never sets on freedom.
We’d walk around the 274 acres of the grounds. From sunlight to darkness, I’d marvel at the neoclassical architecture of this national landmark that rises to 289 feet making it the fifth tallest building in Washington DC. The west-​facing side, with a marching band performing by the steps was the busy side where the east facing side with a man made pond and open spaces reaching toward the Library of Congress was the quiet side. My favorite vistas were from the Capitol Reflecting Pool. I’d look to the east and see the US Capitol close up and turn around to see the National Mall spreading west toward the Washington Monument. This was a picturesque spot to watch the sun go down. Walking the footpaths around the US Capitol Building is stepping on the work of landscape architect Frank Lloyd Wright who designed the grounds.
What is also fascinating about the US Capitol Building is what you don’t see. When I was standing by the Capitol Reflecting Pool looking at the geese and the US Capitol, if I had x-​ray vision, I’d be looking below at the Interstate 395 tunnels. If I had the exact x-​ray vision and was looking under the Capitol grounds, I’d see a private subway connecting the US Capitol Building to the surrounding Congressional Office Buildings.
«Awesome» summarizes the US Capitol Building. This Capitol Landmark Review is evidence that spending time at the US Capitol is an awesome experience.

Not only is this one of the best spots/​tours in the city, but also one that is easier for tourists to get tickets to (Simply walk into your Representative’s office and ask for tickets and an intern tour guide). If you don’t get tickets, you can still visit the relatively new visitor’s center to get a history lesson of one of America’s most recognizable buildings. If you get a tour through your Rep, the tour becomes interactive as you walk through the building’s chambers and even the dome. It’s truly one of the most beautiful buildings in the US. If you have tickets, be sure to get additional tickets to witness Congress in session. It’s a bit boring, but the novelty of witnessing it will keep your interest for at least 5 – 10 minutes.

If you can, do a tour through your senator instead of the visitor center because of the difference in crowd size. I did a tour through my senator and there was only 2 other people in my group. It meant that we were able to move a lot quicker and got to ask more questions with out shouting. The tour itself is pretty cool even with all the construction going on that will not be done until next year. We got to tour through the old supreme court chamber.

I wrote an email to the Representative of Virginia (Whittman) and was able to schedule a tour of the US Capitol.
I received an email within two months with a date and time of the tour (although, you are warned that the weight can be up to six months). My daughter and I lucked out, because our tour of the White House was the same day… I will Unilocal about that in a separate review!
Be prepared to walk quite a distance because the US Capitol visitor center is located in the back of the building and down a flight of stairs. Once inside, you walk through a metal detector and proceed you down another flight of stairs into the main lobby.
We checked in with an extremely friendly staff member, that gave us a map, flier and a sticker with our tour information, then we moved into a line for the auditorium where we watched a 15 minute video on the history of the Capitol.
When we left the auditorium, we were paired off into groups with a specified tour guide and then given headphones which allowed us to hear our mic’d in tour guides.
The knowledge of the staff, beauty of the building, and ease of the tour almost made up for the fact that the rotunda was under construction and we were unable to see most of the the intricate details of the dome. Other then the construction, I would highly recommend that people make the time to see inside the US Capitol when visiting DC.

Really awesome. Although, 4* instead of 5* because you’re not allowed to take pictures in certain areas of the building. That is somewhat disappointing. But it’s fun to visit and see places that you have never seen or heard of before. Like the Crypt, Washington’s would-​be tomb, etc.
Tip — book a tour through your Senator. You get to go from the Senate office building to the Capitol building via the underground tunnel. It’s pretty neat.

Such a great place to see the Washington DC orchestra on the Sunday before Labor Day. One thing that we really enjoyed was sitting on the lawn of the Capitol building just relaxing and listening to beautiful music.
Even though we had our reservations regarding the large gathering and safety, we felt extremely safe. There were drug/​bomb dogs as well as metal detectors and police officers.
It was a great evening to be with close friends and enjoy our Capitol building.

If I were building my own legislative branch building to house the upper and lower houses of the most powerful nation on earth, I couldn’t have done a better job myself!
Seriously, this — along with the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court building, are impressive in the truest sense.
Here, the richness of our legislative history is seen from every state and epoch since our beginning.
I will load photos once I return to a computer — iPhone 6+ is great but this deserved more.
You’re only cheating yourself if you don’t visit.

The U.S. Capitol was quite interesting. I think it gives you more details into the cliff note versions you get in school. For whatever reason, it makes you feel a little proud as you go through everything. I would recommend this one of the major attractions if you are limited on time. I do think this is a once in a lifetime visit though, meaning it is great, but you may not need to re-​visit it again. There are so many other things to visit in DC.
Only word of caution is that there are tons of schools that come to visit every day. If you have a small headache before going in, you can expect that to grow, as the voices of hundreds of excited kids can really take a toll on your head.

Few other American buildings can evoke the intense emotional response one feels when setting eyes on the spectacular dome of the United States Capitol, regardless of how many times you’ve visited Washington. The alabaster columns, the seemingly unblemished marble, and the reassuring gaze from ‘Freedom’ standing atop the pinnacle — they’re all part of the grand architectural legacy that makes this symbol of democracy unlike anything else in the world.
But even when the dome is hidden beneath a patchwork of iron scaffolding, as it was during my most recent visit to D.C., the Capitol remains one of the most fascinating buildings in the world, and an essential visit for every American.
Begin your tour at the new Capitol Visitors Center, an expansive collection of artifacts and documents that lays out the building’s rich history in extravagant detail. Then, instead of the standard tour, ask your Member of Congress for gallery passes (when the House or Senate are in session) and a private staff tour. Most will be more than willing to accommodate the request, especially if you visit during one of the slower times of the year.
A private tour (usually given by a well-​trained office intern) will show you all the building’s major highlights (the Old Supreme Court Chamber, the Old Senate Chamber, the Crypt, the Rotunda, and so on), as well as a few spots the public tour has to skip. Visit during August recess, and the right legislative aide MIGHT just be able to get you onto the Speaker’s balcony — still the most incredible experience I’ve had in my many visits to Washington. And instead of straining to hear from the back of a crowded tour group, you and your family will have your own personal Capitol expert ducking you past the entrance queues.
This ‘backstage’ tour will also give you a glimpse of the Capitol complex that few visitors ever see — from the vast network of tunnels that connect the various House and Senate office buildings to the private train that whisks legislators to the floor to cast their vote. And if one of the chambers is in session during your visit, don’t miss the opportunity to sit in the gallery for a few minutes and see the wheels of government in, um … action.
The renovated dome won’t be unveiled until mid-​2017, but that doesn’t mean the Capitol isn’t worth a visit in the meantime. Take advantage of the perks offered by your senator or member of congress, and experience YOUR Capitol Building the way it was meant to be experienced.

The United States Capitol Building. 435 members of the House of Representatives, 100 members of the Senate, and nearly three centuries of prestige. Although this capitol building may not be the most beautiful capitol building in the United States (see the one in Austin, TX), it is certainly the most famous as well as houses the most powerful legislative body in the known world.
While the US Capitol Building is under current exterior renovations, its worth knowing that its also a pretty cool place to visit. After getting free tickets from your congressional representative’s office, you can take a small train to either chamber. Since there is so much activity occurring within the house chamber, you may get lost in paying attention to all of the parliamentary procedures, as well as political grandstanding. You’ll see the mighty stars and stripes behind the Speaker of the House’s podium, which is always a mainstay at every presidential State of the Union address. The House of Representatives has had one former Speaker of the House become US President (James Knox Polk) in its history, as well as several notable individuals. One US President even went back to the House of Representatives (John Quincy Adams) after his term had expired.
The Senate chamber is quite different. In taking the train the other direction (northbound), you’ll pass by the entrances to the capitol cafeteria (a must stop due to very good food) and enter an area that is rather ornate, and a little quieter. Depending on the bill on some days, you may witness the Vice President presiding over the Senate. On certain days, you’ll notice some political stars, such as Marco Rubio, John McCain, and Texas’s own Ted Cruz. The US Senate has had several of its members become US President, of whom most recent members have been Barack Obama, Lyndon Baines Johnson, JFK, and Richard Nixon (Obama & Kennedy were directly elected from the US Senate). Of course, one former US President went back to the Senate (Andrew Johnson).
The US Capitol Building’s west entrance faces the Washington Mall, and subsequent monuments. This is the side that you have seen at every presidential inauguration since 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office. The Capitol’s west entrance also provides some of the more scenic areas to run in, starting from the capitol steps and going all the way to Arlington National Cemetary. Try running that to and from, and you would have easily run 10 – 11 miles!
The Capitol dome houses unique artwork and busts of representatives and senators past. There is even a reference to the George Washington’s crypt, which has never been used (he is buried at Mount Vernon, FYI). While at times the doors to both chambers may be opened for air, it is advisable to get tickets from your representatives to see your current congress in action.
For first time visitors to Washington, DC, this building is a must-​see to observe one of your three branches of government (the others are the executive & judicial). Welcome to Washington!

Tour was pretty cool overall… statues… paintings… domes… etc…
Afterwards, I headed through the underground tunnel to the Library of Congress…
The alarms suddenly went off!
The Library of Congress doors were shut and automatically locked…
But no staff around to tell us what exactly was happening…
Me and a couple dozen other tourists hung out for about 10 minutes, listening to alarms…
After a couple more minutes I gave up and walked back towards the Capital Building to leave…
I finally reached some glass doors…
Outside are some DC cops and tourists standing still…
I open the door, and take a few steps out…
«HEY YOU! GET BACK INSIDE! RIGHT NOW!! I!» — DC Cop, Sgt A-​Hole
«Uh…sorry!» — Chun P, Unilocal Elite, Gold Badge
I head back to the main visitors lobby area…
I go use the restroom, which are really nice…
Alarms finally stop…
I exit out the main doors…
Cops are still around…
But no more angry encounters with the fuzz…
The End

We made reservations with the offices of our local representative back in Texas and the transaction was easy. However, we noticed that lines weren’t as bad this time of year for the walk-​up tickets despite the hordes of junior students visiting for their history/​government class. We went during off-​peak season, so getting reservations is HIGHLY recommended.
Entrance is free as with most of D.C.‘s public attractions. And the guided tour was great and extremely informative. Our guide was knowledgeable and well-​versed with the history and facts about the Capitol Building and our past Presidents.
There is a cafeteria in the building if you get hungry or thirsty, but be warned it is a bit expensive for basic food. We really enjoyed all the statues from all the 50 states presented throughout the building. We had fun learning about all the amazing individuals and their contribution to their state.
Also, don’t forget to get permission from your local Congressman to visit the House of Representatives and Senate before taking your trip. I think it’s easier just to get it while requesting reservations for the Capitol building tour.
There is a tunnel that takes you right to the Library of Congress and they have some great exhibits. Would recommend stopping by there as they inside is simply mesmerizing.

The Capitol is one of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in DC. The design draws heavily from the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
In 1793, Washington and 8 other Freemasons laid the cornerstone of the Capitol and 7 years later, the 1^st session of Congress with both chambers was in session. In 1814, British troops set fire to the building during the War of 1812, but rain showers minimized the fire and damage. In the 1850s, the Capitol was expanded to add a new chamber for the House of Representatives on the south side and a new chamber for the Senate on the north side.
Rotunda
The East side of the Rotunda has 4 paintings depicting the discovery of America, while the West side of the Rotunda has 4 paintings depicting the founding of the US. Brumidi painted «The Apotheosis of Washington» beneath the top of the dome and the «Frieze of American History» which is in chronological order from the landing of Columbus to the Wright Brother’s flight. In the Rotunda, 11 presidents have lain in state for public viewing.
Crypt
The crypt was initially designed to be the final resting place of Washington in the tomb below. There is a star inlaid in the floor that marks the point at which DC is divided into its 4 quadrants. All addresses in DC are designated NE, NW, SE, and SW in relation to the Rotunda. Surrounding the crypt are 13 statues representing the 13 original colonies.
Dome
The statue on top of the dome is the «Statue of Freedom» which weighs 15,000 lbs. The entire dome is made out of 8,909,200 lbs of ironwork. The plaster model of the «Statue of Freedom» sits in the United States Capitol Visitor Center.
Hall of Columns
The National Statuary Hall Collections comprises of 2 statues donated by each of the 50 states to honor persons notable in their histories.
Fun Facts about the Capitol:
–Church services were regularly held at the Capitol until after the Civil War.
–Underground tunnels and a private subway connects the main Capitol building with each of the Congressional office buildings in the surrounding complex.
–The East Front of the Capitol was the site of the most presidential inaugurations until Reagan began a new tradition in 1981.
–Rosa Parks was the 1^st woman and the 2^nd African-​American to lie in honor in the Capitol.

No estoy muy seguro que es lo que en realidad se lleva a cabo en este edificio. Fui a conocerlo porque su arquitectura es realmente impresionantemente bella. Aunque solamente lo vi por fuera porque si quieres entrar a su interior hasta donde sé debe ser una visita guiada. Para eso tienes que sacar una cita previa y llegar puntual para que te hagan el recorrido. Dicen que es mucho más hermosa por dentro que por fuera esta hermosa construcción.
Tiene hermosas áreas verdes y un enorme estacionamiento. Si vas de visita a pie te recomiendo tomar el metro y te bajes en la estación más cercana porque aunque un lugar de otro parece estar cerca en realidad están muy lejos. En especial el Capitolio está muy limpio y bien cuidado, se nota que si le dan mantenimiento a este hermoso lugar. Es sin duda un lugar que debes de visitar.
Yo empezaré a hacer mi cita para entrar a conocer su interior.

I had no preconceived idea what to expect, except it was a tour of the Capitol. I went through my Representative Ed Royce for passes. His staff escorted us from his office at the Rayburn building and got us in to the 2:30 tour.
The tour starts off with a patriotic movie, and then the auditorium is divided into groups. The tour guide gives everyone headsets, and escorts us around various rooms including
— the Old Supreme Court Chamber
— Rotunda of the US Capitol
— Old Senate Chamber
Pictures are encouraged, except for one part of the tour, and you can ask your guide plenty of questions. There’s a lot of walking, and some with stairs/​steps. Its not strenuous, but do have good shoes. They have a cafeteria and gift shop, but we didn’t have time for that.
Total tour time was about an hour and a half.

You will be surprised how beautiful it is inside. The tours are great and have you wear headphones so you can hear your guide. There are plenty of elevators for those who are not able to take the stairs. They have a sort of food court or restaurant but we did not eat there. The food zone was very clean. There is a lot of history and the guides will navigate you thru it all.
If you want to see the gallery you need to go to your state representative (something along those lines) for tickets.
Even with the construction it was gorgeous. You walk out with a sense of pride knowing you are a citizen of such a great country.
The street parking is available but is hard to find at times. They are located across from the Supreme Court and library of congress.
You will go thru security so belts off and absolutely no food or beverages. You are allowed your phones and cameras though so no worries there.
The tours are free as is entry so enjoy.

Four stars for the structure and one star for the clowns inside.
Capitol building houses the Senators and Congressman it is a beautiful building with lovely architecture and surrounding landscaping.
If you want a tour write your congress person and they will usually oblige.
This is the other end of the Capitol Mall and you will have hiked a nice amount if you started at the White House or Lincoln Memorial.
Now back to my Gerrymandering ways… I joke.

Das Symbol der amerikanischen Demokratie, was immer das blieb, was es heute noch ist das Parlamentsgebäude eines weitgehend demokratischen und freien Staates. Es steht genau in der Mitte der Stadt Washington und seiner 69 Quadratmeilen District of Columbia. Warum sieht auch das Kapitol so klassizistisch aus? Die Gründungsväter der USA wollten den demokratischen Idee Griechenlands und Roms Rechnung tragen. Steht man oben auf dem Capitol Hill vor dem Capitol, so liegt rechts der Senatssaal (erst seit 1859) und links das Repräsentantenhaus.
Das neue Visitor Center liegt unter dem Vorplatz und obwohl ich von dem gesamten Eindruck auf dem Vorplatz des Capitols so beeindruckt war, dachte ich, dass ich einen Blick ins Visitor Center werfen sollte. Aber auch das eigentliche Visitor Center war wegen des Haushaltsstreits geschlossen und beim Einlass erwähnten die Cops, dass nur die Galerie geöffnet sei, womit ich die National Statuary Hall meinte, in der jeder Staat wichtige Personen aufstellte, so zum Beispiel Hawaii eine Statue von Kamehameha.
Es war aber ganz anders gemeint: Nach dreimal rechts, viermal links (wobei ich auch durch die Statuary Hall lief), Aufzug und zwei Sicherheitskontrollen sass ich bezeichnenderweise um fünf vor zwölf auf der Galerie des Repräsentantenhauses und konnte die um high noon beginnende Sitzung verfolgen, bei der sich Republikaner und Demokraten dann in etwa dreiminütigen Statements an den Hals gingen. Nach den Reden verliessen die Render sofort den Saal. Natürlich ging es bei dem Streit um die Schliessung der Parks und die Gesundheitsreform Obamas, ich war überrascht, dass ich die Gelegenheit bekam hier dabei zu sein, aber eben auch dies ist streng demokratisch geregelt, schliesslich respräsentieren die Repräsentanten das Volk. Und das soll ihnen bei ihrer Arbeit auf die Finger schauen. Nach einer halben Stunde wiederholten sich die Argumente und ich hatte keine Lust mehr den immergleichen Argumenten einer der 435 Abgeordneten zuzuhören. Übrigens dürfen Besucher der Galerie des Repräsentantenhauses bei ihrem Besuch weder lesen noch schreiben.
So ging es wieder raus und es gab eine kleine Lehrstunde in US-​amerikanischer Demokratie, die sich gelohnt hat.

Das Capitol ist eine der populärsten Sehenswürdigkeiten in Washington D.C. und befindet sich am östlichen Ende der National Mall. Hier finden regelmäßig Sitzungen des Senats und des Repräsentantenhauses statt.
Wenn man so davor steht, hat man das Gefühl in Rom zu sein. Das ist auch nicht abwegig, denn der Name Capitol leitet sich von einem Hügel Roms ab, dem Kapitolinischen Hügel. Auch der Brunnen vor dem Gebäude verstärkt den mediterranen Charakter des Bauwerkes.
Das Capitol besteht aus einer zentralen Rotunde, sowie aus einem Nord– und einem Südflügel. Auf der Rotunde befindet sich eine große Kuppel, auf deren Spitze sich die sechs Meter hohe Bronzestatue «Statue of Freedom» befindet. Sie Neben den typischen amerikanischen Symbolen trägt sie einen römischen Helm.
Das Capitol ist riesig und verfügt über eine Grundfläche von ca. 16.300 Quadratmetern und das Gebäude hat insgesamt 658 Fenster. Vor dem Gebäude befindet sich das Ulysses S. Grant Memorial mit dem Peace Monument und der Garfield Statue und dem Capitol Reflecting Pool.
Vor dem Gebäude hat man einen schönen Blick auf die National Mall und das Washington Monument. Auf der Seite kann man den US Botanic Garden besichtigen. Auf der Rückseite befindet sich das Capitol Visitor Center.
Dieses beeindruckende Gebäude sollte auf keiner Besichtigungstour der National Mall bzw. Washington fehlen.