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Visiting Our Nation’s Capitol |
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Every spring thousands of people from all over the world come to Washington D.C. to visit the United States Capitol.
Designed by Frederick Law Olmstead in 1874, the United States Capitol has seen millions of visitors. Just last year alone, my office provided 154 tours for nearly 600 Nebraskans.
It has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for almost two centuries. In addition to its active use by Congress, the Capitol is a museum of American art and history.
Now, having been built, rebuilt, extended and updated, the Capitol building is getting a face-lift.
When it opens on Tuesday, December 2, 2008, the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) will provide visitors to the Capitol with many wonderful and fun opportunities to learn and discover – including an exhibition gallery, two orientation theaters, a 550-seat cafeteria, gift shops, and interactive displays – all within a secure public environment which will provide visitors shelter from the sometimes inclement weather of D.C. (and if you’ve ever been to D.C. during the dog days of summer, you can relate).
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. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the Capitol and see the Legislative Branch in action.
The entire facility is located below ground level on the East Side of the Capitol so as not to detract from the appearance of the Capitol and of the grounds.
The planting of 85 new trees, the restoration of historic fountains, lanterns, and seat walls – as well as the additions of skylights, water features and granite pavers across the East Front Plaza will all serve to educate and protect visitors to the Capitol.
In order to help streamline tour procedures, several changes will occur in how the public and Member offices reserve and guide tours of the Capitol.
In mid-November, an online advanced reservation system will go live to allow the public to be able to reserve tours without having to go through congressional offices. After December 2, all tours must be reserved online through the Advanced Reservation System or by phone. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis, with groups being able to reserve tours 90 days in advance.
Public groups of 10 or less must reserve online at www.visitthecapitol.gov. Groups of more than 10 will be required to reserve through a congressional office (see below for how to contact my offices).
Security precautions necessitate the prohibition of certain items from the Capitol (including aerosol containers, any weapons, and any bag larger than 14” wide by 13” high by 4” deep).
It’s fitting the CVC will be opening on December 2. On that date in 1863, the Statue of Freedom was placed atop the Capitol Building to signify the completion of the Capitol Dome.
Each year, nearly five million people from around the world visit our nation’s Capitol. They come to see where our founders debated the issues which built our country and where our current leaders continue to shape the powerful nation the United States has come to be.
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