Improving the security of the Congress, the Capitol, and visitors was one of the fundamental goals driving the construction of the Capitol Visitor Center. The fatal shootings of two U. Capitol Police officers in July and the events of September 11 underscored the degree to which the Capitol and its occupants are at risk.
Therefore, Congress directed the Architect of the Capitol to design and construct a visitor center to "provide greater security for all persons working in or visiting the United States Capitol and to provide a more convenient place in which to learn of the work of Congress.
The Visitor Center provides a secure public environment to welcome and manage millions of visitors and to protect the Capitol Building, its occupants, and guests. The issue of enslaved labor in the construction of the U. Capitol is presented in a number of ways in the Capitol Visitor Center. A commemorative marker acknowledging the role that enslaved laborers played in the construction of the United States Capitol is located in Emancipation Hall in the U.
Capitol Visitor Center. The marker is comprised of a block of sandstone that was quarried from Aquia Creek in Virginia. It was once a part of the East Front portico, which was completed in The stone is presented in reverse position to feature its original chisel marks. In the Exhibition Hall, reading rails include text accompanied by images that discuss the contributions of enslaved laborers who cleared grounds, quarried stone, sawed timber, and labored on the Capitol's structure. Reading rails around the plaster model for the Statue of Freedom highlight the contributions of Philip Reid, an enslaved laborer whose talents were instrumental in the casting of the Statue of Freedom.
In addition, the importance of enslaved laborers is discussed in the minute orientation film that is shown to all visitors at the beginning of their tour of the Capitol. Educational information on the role of enslaved labor is also incorporated into the script for guide-led tours and staff-led tours of the Capitol.
The topic is also covered in the Emancipation Hall brochure available in the Visitor Center and online. The Joint Committee on the Library approved moving 24 statues from various locations in the Capitol to the Visitor Center, which was designed as an extension of the Capitol, not a separate facility. The plan's goal was to make these sculptures more accessible to the visiting public and help alleviate overcrowding. Overcrowding has been an issue in Statuary Hall since the s, and Congress determined in that only one statue from each state should be placed in Statuary Hall, and that the others would be given prominent locations in designated areas and corridors of the Capitol.
With the addition of the Capitol Visitor Center, it was decided that the statues would be rearranged again in order to further highlight and feature this unique collection, which represents the 50 United States and its citizens. The statues selected to be moved were those that were most recently donated to the collection, and represent the diversity of our country.
There is no plan to rotate the statues in Emancipation Hall or move other statues from the Capitol into the Visitor Center. Tour buses drop off visitors on the West Front of the Capitol.
For people with mobility issues, there are shuttles driven by Visitor Assistants available to take them to the Visitor Center entrance at the East Front.
Some city buses, including Metrobus and the Circulator, drop off passengers at the East Front near the Visitor Center entrance. There are no storage facilities at the Visitor Center for prohibited items. References to religion and faith are included in the context of several historic exhibits, and several religious items appear in the displays.
Skip to main navigation Skip to main content. Print Materials Brochures International Translations. Timeline of Congress and the Capitol Prologue - - - - - - Present Epilogue. Breadcrumb U. Frequently Asked Questions. Room 1S. Events Calendar. Capitol Visitors Guide. Contact Us - Tour Hours On Monday through Friday, guided tours of the Capitol are available on a limited basis between a. On Saturday and Sunday, guided tours of the Capitol are available on a limited basis between p.
Currently Specialty and Seasonal Tours are not being offered. Self-guided tours of the Capitol and Grounds are allowed daily. Visitors are welcome to pick up free self-guided Capitol and Grounds tour brochures at the Capitol north entry or Capitol Information and Guide Service 1S. View the Self-Guided Tour Times section at bottom of the page.
Group Tours Please call - Groups with more than 40 people will require multiple tour times. Customer Survey Please fill out a customer survey after your visit.
Other Tours Governor's Mansion Tour. State Cemetery Tours. Footer content 1 of Return to header options and navigation menu. Footer content 2. House of Representatives and U. Senate in person must obtain a pass for the House or Senate galleries.
Passes are required to enter either gallery at any time. Visitors may request a gallery pass by contacting or visiting the office of their Representative or Senators. International visitors may inquire about gallery passes at the House and Senate Appointment Desks on the upper level of the U. The galleries are open when the U. House of Representatives and the U. Senate are in session. When the U. House of Representatives is not in session, visitors with passes are admitted to the gallery Monday — Friday from a.
Many congressional offices offer their own staff-led tours to constituent groups of up to 15 people, and most can assist you in reserving a tour of the Capitol.
Tour services and organizations with groups of more than 15 participants should click here to access the group section of the online reservation system.
Reservations for groups become available days in advance. Same-day passes are available at the Information Desks located on the lower level of the Visitor Center. During spring, summer and some holiday periods, the availability of same-day tour passes may be limited. There may be a wait to acquire passes.
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