Information on the U.S. Capitol Building
Tours of the U.S. Capitol include an introductory film which explains the legislative process and the history of the U.S. Capitol building. You will then be led through several of the historic rooms of the Capitol. At the conclusion of your tour, you will have the opportunity to visit the Gallery of the House of Representatives Chamber where debate and voting on legislation can be viewed when Congress is in session.
U.S. Capitol Location
The Capitol Visitor Center, the new main entrance to the U.S. Capitol building, is located below the East Plaza of the Capitol at First Street and East Capitol Street Northeast (map).
The Capitol Visitor Center
The new Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) opened in December, 2008 and features a new museum space, Exhibition Hall, which contains information and interactive displays about the history of the Capitol building and Congress. The CVC is the new main entrance to the U.S. Capitol building, and is located on the East front at First Street and East Capitol Street, NE (map). The Capitol Visitor Center is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Availability of Reserved U.S. Capitol tours
- Due to the large number of requests received, my office highly recommends requesting your tour at least one month in advance. My office can request tours a maximum of four months in advance.
- All U.S. Capitol building tours are free of charge.
- Tours are offered from 8:50 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
- The building is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day.
Visiting the Gallery of the House of Representatives Chamber
The Gallery of the House of Representatives Chamber, from which you can view debate and voting when Congress is in session, is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm and whenever the House of Representatives is in session.
Passes are required to enter the gallery. Please feel free to visit my office in 2238 Rayburn House Office building to pick up passes for the House Gallery.
A Note on Security:
Before entering the U.S. Capitol, all visitors are screened by a magnetometer and all items that are permitted inside the building are screened by an x-ray device. A list of prohibited items may be found HERE.
For additional information about the U.S. Capitol building, please click HERE.
Remember, to schedule a tour of the U.S. Capitol, please contact Sarah Jackson in my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-8020. You may also return to my tour home page to fill out a tour request online.
Note: Please determine all of the tours that you may be interested in before filling out this form. Filling out multiple forms may result in a delay in processing your request.
