The US Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC will open its doors on December 2, 2008, which is coincidently the 145th anniversary of the raising of the statue that sets atop the Dome. The Capitol Visitor Center is located below ground between the Capitol and the US Supreme Court.
Some of the highlights that visitors will get to see are a letter from George Washington to the Continental Congress and Franklin Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech. There are also two theaters. The House Theater and Senate Theater present brief films about each of these two bodies of Congress, as well as live feeds to the House and Senate when they are in session.
Additionally, the Lincoln Catafalque--the bier or platform on which President Lincoln’s casket laid—is also on display.
Visitors will be able to book tours of the Capitol in advance at http://www.visitthecapitol.gov, this special feature will go live on Nov. 14, or by phone, 202-226-8000.
Facts
- The project cost tax payers a cool $621 million.
- There are two gift shops in the new visitor center.
- There are two theaters in the new visitor center.
- There are 26 public restrooms in the new visitor center.
- It is estimated that approximately 3 million tourists visit the Capitol each year.
- Over 60,000 truckloads of soil, or approximately 600,000 cubic yards of soil and rubble, were removed by the time excavation was complete.
General information
The Capitol Visitor Center is open to visitors from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day.
Tours are conducted from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
