Your visit to the historic U.S. Capitol begins as you enter the Capitol Visitor Center.  With its soaring spaces and skylight views of the Capitol dome, the Visitor Center welcomes you on a journey of discovery.  The Capitol is home to the U.S. Congress and its two legislative bodies, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.  Through films, exhibits, and tours, you will learn about how Congress works, how this magnificent building was built, and how citizens can participate in this extraordinary experiment called representative democracy.

LOCATION AND HOURS

The Capitol Visitor Center, the new main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located below the East Plaza of the Capitol between Constitution and Independence Avenues.

The Visitor Center is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.  It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Inauguration Day.

Official Business:  Visitors with official business appointments may enter the Visitor Center as early as 7:15 a.m.

For more information, go to the Capitol Visitor Center Web site.