The US Capitol, Washington DC

Dome of the US Capitol at Night

Closest Metro stop: Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter
Yellow / Green Lines
View Metro Route Map

The US Capitol is a symbol of our Federal Government, Washington DC, and of the US Congress.  It anchors on end of the National Mall opposite  the Lincoln Memorial.  The United States Capitol Complex is comprised of the Capitol, the House and Senate Office Buildings, the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Capitol Grounds, the Library of Congress buildings, and the Supreme Court Building.  View official website.

Photographing the US Capitol
When taking photos of the Capitol, there are many spots to position for the ideal shot.  In front of the Capitol Reflecting Pool, at the elevated platform in front of the statues facing the western face of the Capitol, from the lawn below, and right at the base of the stairs.  Another nice shot is from the base of the Washington Monument (if you have a telephoto lens).  If the sun is cooperating with you (early in the day) you can also take photos of the east face - from near the Supreme Court.

Visiting the US Capitol
The Capitol is open to the public for guided tours only. Tours will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday (the Capitol is not available for tours on Sundays). The Capitol will be open on all federal holidays except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Visitors must obtain free tickets for tours on a first-come, first-served basis, at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located along the curving sidewalk southwest of the Capitol (near the intersection of First Street, S.W., and Independence Avenue; see map). Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. daily. Ticketholders will be directed to the South Visitor Receiving Facility, which is located south of the Capitol; from there they will proceed to the Capitol to begin their tour. Maximum tour size is 40 people.  Make sure you get your tickets early, they tend to run out of tickets in the afternoon.

	View of Capitol from front of the US Botanical Garden			Statue in front of US Capitol (western face)
	Night View of Capitol from front of the US Botanical Garden			Night view of the Capitol with Garfield's statue in foreground
	View of Capitol (western face) from across the Reflecting Pool			Southwestern quartering view of the Capitol
	View from the bottom of the stairs (western face)			Note the intricate columns and arches in the architecture
	View from the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue			US Capitol with Cadet Artillery Battery in foreground

US Capitol Viewed across the Capitol Reflecting Pool