New Capitol Visitor Center to open
in December

Teachers and students visiting Washington, D.C., will soon get a chance to experience the new Capitol Visitor Center, a 580,000-square-foot addition to the U.S. Capitol Building.

Construction of the Capitol Visitor Center is the largest project in the Capitol’s 215-year history. The new Visitor Center is slated to open December 2, the same date that the Statue of Freedom was placed atop the Capitol dome in 1863.

The Capitol Visitor Center is being designed as an extension of the Capitol building, where visitors are welcomed to the seat of American government. In order to avoid blocking the view of the majestic Capitol Building, the center is completely underground, sitting below the east Capitol grounds.

Visitors will find an exhibition gallery, two large orientation theaters, a 550-seat cafeteria, gift shops and restrooms. The experience will include a 13-minute orientation film and an exhibit that demonstrates the story of representative democracy in the United States as well as the building of the Capitol.

Plans also call for the exhibition gallery to hold rare documents and artifacts from the National Archives and the Library of Congress that relate to the duties and responsibilities of Congress.

In addition to indoor amenities, the Capitol grounds, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead in 1874, are also being revitalized. Improvements include 85 new trees, the restoration of historic fountains, lanterns and seat walls, and the addition of skylights, water features and granite pavers across the East Front Plaza.

Find more information and keep up with weekly construction updates at www.aoc.gov/cvc.