Visiting the Capitol is a journey through the history of the making of the United States. Its stunning new Visitor Center, "Emancipation Hall," and the recent focus brought to its Rotunda by the new Dan Brown book "The Lost Symbol," make the US Capitol worth the trip even for those who have been there before, self included.
First advice: make appointments. You can make an appointment for a tour right online at the US Capitol site. To actually watch the US Congress in session though, you will need a pass. US citizens can get passes through the offices of the their Senators or Representatives, international visitors at the House and Senate Appointment Desks on the upper level of the Capitol.
To reach the Visitor's Center, you can take 1st St. past Independence Ave. across the street from the Library of Congress. There are ramps and walkways that will lead you from there to the Visitor's Center. As you can imagine, visitors to the Capitol are tightly screened--don't even think about bringing food, drinks or large backpacks into the site. If you have a reservation for a tour, just check in and get in-line at the Visitor Centers. With its soaring ceilings, historic statuary and artifacts, the Visitor Center is worth transversing before you get in line for your tour.
The tour is introduced by a brief film about the history of the Capitol. The building started its evolution to what it is today in 1793 when George Washington laid the cornerstone. At first, the House met in a large room on the second floor, and the Senate met in a chamber on the ground floor. The Senate then moved to a chamber on the second floor, now known as the Old Senate Chamber which you visit during the guided tour. In 1807, after the south wing of the Capitol was completed a wooden walkway connected the House with the Senate wing. As new states were added to the Union, the Capitol was extended by adding wings to the ends of the original building. By 1859 both legislative bodies had been moved to those wings in the Chambers they occupy today.
Another notable tour stop is the old hall of the House of Representatives, now National Statuary Hall. Originally it contained a collection of statues donated by individual states to honor persons notable in their history. All of the fifty US states contributed two statues each. However, the room became overcrowded so in an effort to improve the appearance of the collection, thirty-eight statues were selected to remain in Statuary Hall. Those statues representing ten of the thirteen original colonies were moved to the Central Hall on the first floor. The remainder of the statues were distributed throughout the Capitol, some which were moved again, many are in the Visitors Center. The one pictured here that stands in Statuary Hall is of Daniel Webster (of the famous debates), a Senator from New Hampshire, who also served as Secretary of State. A list of the entire collection of statues and states that donated them can be found at the architect of the Capitol's website. The Rotunda at the center of Capitol between the two legislative chambers is thought of as the heart of the Capitol -- and alone well worth the tour. It is the space used for funerals of Presidents, members of Congress, military heroes and other distinguished citizens. Visiting heads of state are frequently received here. More recently, the Rotunda has had the added cache of being featured as an important symbolic backdrop in the "Lost Symbol" novel and will undoubtedly receive even more notoriety when the film is released. On the canopy 180 feet above the Rotunda floor, the Italian-American artists Brumidi painted The Apotheosis of Washington. George Washington is depicted encircled by symbols from mythology representing American democracy and technological progress. Many who read the Brown book and who have never seen or carefully noted this large mural will be surprised by the book's descriptions of the mural. Also of note are the large American Revolutionary War paintings, by John Trumbull, an aide-de-camp to Washington.
The Capitol Visitor Center is open from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except certain holidays. Additional information on visiting may be found at www.visitthecapitol.gov.
