For Further Information
Visiting the U.S. Capitol
The United States Capitol is among the most popular tourist attractions in Washington, D.C.;
every year it is visited by 3-5 million people from around the world. This information is presented
to assist you in planning your visit to the Capitol.
As of June 9, 1999, a custom-designed safety netting system has been installed in the
upper reaches of the Rotunda. This netting will allow the Rotunda to be open during the
dome rehabilitation project. An
artist's rendering of the Rotunda with the safety netting in
place (40k .jpg) is available.
- Location: The Capitol is located on Capitol Hill at the east end of the
Mall. A map of the U.S. Capitol complex (110k .jpg)
is available.
For tour bus operators and organizers, maps showing tour bus routes from the Capitol to Parking Lots A and B near
the Capitol Grounds (two .gif images totaling 48k) are available. Drivers should use one of these
routes when going between the tour drop-off/pick-up point on First Street, N.E., and the bus
parking lots.
- Opening days: The Capitol is open to the public every day of the year
except for New Year's
Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- Opening hours:
- March through August: 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., every day
- September through February: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every day
- Capitol Guide Service hours of operation:
- March through August:
- Monday through Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (The last tour begins at 7:15 p.m.)
- Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (The last tour begins at 4:00 p.m.)
- Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Guided tours are not offered, but the Capitol remains open
for visitors to walk through. Guides are stationed at various locations in the building to answer
your questions.)
- September through February:
- Monday through Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday: Guided tours are not offered, but the Capitol remains open for visitors to walk
through.
- General tour information: Guided tours last approximately thirty minutes.
The tours are given free of charge, and tickets are not required. The waiting area
for tours is located on the East Front Drive (facing the Library of Congress and the Supreme
Court). For recorded information regarding tours of the Capitol, call 202-225-6827.
Information about visiting the House and Senate Chambers is available at the Web sites of the
House of Representatives and the
Senate, respectively. For additional
information, you may
wish to contact your Representative, your Senators, or the U.S. Capitol Guide Service. The
Capitol switchboard (202-224-3121) will connect you with your Member of Congress. You can
also call the Guide Service (202-225-6827) for further information on how to visit the House and
Senate Chambers.
Information about tours for the disabled is available from the Congressional Special Services
Office at 202-224-4048 (voice) or 202-224-4049 (TDD).
Architect of the Capitol, Office of the
Curator
This page revised June 9, 1999
URL: http://www.aoc.gov/info/hours.htm