As New CVC Opens Norton Announces Joint Capitol-CVC Tours

December 2, 2008

Washington, D.C. - After attending the grand opening of the new Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that she is changing her D.C. Residents in the Capitol program to include a combined CVC-Capitol Tour. Norton has long encouraged adult and student groups to visit her office and tour the Capitol, and has challenged every school to help her assure that every student comes to the Capitol at least once before graduating from high school. The interactive educational features at the CVC will be particularly inviting to students and can be combined with a tour of the Capitol, including the House and Senate galleries, to watch Congress in session before touring the Congresswoman's personal office and getting a question and answer session with the Congresswoman.

Norton wants to encourage residents to visit the new, expanded Capitol, especially student groups, as part of her Residents in the Capitol program. The CVC offers self-guided tours, much like going to a museum, but the facility also features an exhibition hall, two orientation theaters, a 530-seat restaurant, and two gift shops.

Norton, last month, led D.C. residents, elected officials, D.C. tourists officials, and representatives from tourist and hospitality associations on a CVC preview tour. The opening of the CVC, which alone is expected to draw thousands of additional tourists, combined with the inauguration, may help, "bail out the District from the worst of the recession for the next several months," Norton said. Tourism is second only to the federal presence as a source of revenue for the District.

The CVC is open to the public, but to enter the Capitol for a tour, an advance tour reservation is required. Advance reservations must be booked with the U.S. Capitol Visitor Services on line or by phone. Same-day tickets, as in the past, will be available. However, Norton is urging residents to call her office at 202-225-8050 or email her office (tai.brown@mail.house.gov) well in advance to arrange a joint CVC-Capitol tour. The Norton tours will be followed by a tour of her office, and a meeting and Q&A session with the Congresswoman.