My family and I visited Washington, D.C. in 2007 and 2013. The return trip was due to becoming ill the first time and not getting to see very many attractions. We made up for the disappointing first trip by visiting many sites during the second trip including the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Ford’s Theatre, National Portrait Gallery, Postal Museum, Veteran's Memorial, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and the United States Capitol Building.
Of all the attractions we took in during our visit to D.C., I felt like visiting the Capitol was the most once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you’re planning a visit, I have compiled some tips below that will hopefully help you have as good of an experience as my family and I had. We did stand outside the Capitol Building in 2007 when George W. Bush was president but actually got to see it from the inside in 2013 when Barack Obama was president. Happy travels!
Hours and Restrictions
Public transportation is the best way to get there since no personal parking exists around the capitol building. Those who prefer to drive can find two-hour on-street parking near 2nd Street NE/SE and East Capitol Street. The Red Line stops at Union Station and the Orange Line and Blue Line stop at Capitol South.
Read too:
A Usable Past for Liberal Government
Capitol Building tours are available Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. The tour is free, although visitors need to request a ticket in advance. Visitors should be prepared to go through a metal detector upon entrance to the Capitol. The following items are prohibited:
- Food or beverages of any kind, including water
- Any liquids, such as gel, spray, or lotion
- Any pointed object, such as needles for knitting
- Any type of weapon, even a toy replica Box cutters, mace, pepper spray, or razors
What to Do at the United States Capitol Building
With so much to see and limited time to see it, deciding what to do once inside the Capitol Building can be a challenge. The United States Capitol Building website offers these possible itineraries:
- The 45-minute Capitol tour begins with a brief film entitled “Out of Many, One.” The documentary describes how the country became self-governing. The tour brings people through the Capitol’s Rotunda and National Statuary Hall. Another option is to visit Exhibition Hall to learn the story of the United States Congress.
- Visitors who have more time can stop by the galleries for the Senate and House of Representatives and watch Congress in session. Tourists can obtain passes from the visitor’s senator or their state representative’s office in advance.
- The website also offers details about several specialty tours.
- The Capitol Building has its own gift shop, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday. It also has its own restaurant. Breakfast is available from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and lunch is available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. six days a week.
The United States Capitol Building Dome Restoration Project
Many people who visit the Capitol Building do so because they love history. They will probably be interested in knowing about the recent dome restoration project the first one in 150 years. Although the dome has survived everything from the Civil War to an earthquake in 2011, it was apparent by 2013 the time had come for restoration. The dome’s water leaks caused its ironworks to rust and seep into the Capitol Rotunda.
Read too:
A Charge Cut Inside The U.S. Is Nearer Than Ever, Dnd So is a Recession
If you have visited the United States Capitol, what was your favorite part? Please, no political comments. Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.