U.S. Capitol Visitor Center

No food or liquids allowed! So if you have a backpack, leave it at the cloak room at the library congress , Jefferson building. There is a tunnel connecting the two buildings.

Staff are very helpful and courteous. The guided tours are well done and well organized . They provide headphones so you can hear the guide speak.

The tour was limited and left you wanting just a bit more for 45 minutes. If you want to visit the house or senate you have to go to a completely other area and sign up. We skipped that hassle...

The tour is a little short , but very fascinating. Really amazing to stand in the same room where many characters from our history once stood.

Take the tour . So much more than I expected. Spent more time here than I thought I would.

You can now bring empty water bottles in the building. (At least we were able to for our toddler)

The weekend before Christmas is a good time to go. Not crowded and the tours are not busy.

These guys are amazing curators and tour designers!

Tours of the Capitol building can be arranged through the Visitor Center website (or by calling or emailing your Representative's or Senator's office a few weeks in advance).

Go there on off season the tour was awsome!

Get your pass ahead of tıme or prepare to waıt. Excellent experıence. Highly recommend!

Leave your drinks, food, and sense of privacy at the door. Less friendly than TSA guards will ruin your visit.

The guided tours are great and people are friendly !

Get off at the Smithsonian Metro if you are getting here. Any other station is too far.

At Senate gallery check in phones iPods cameras batteries car key clickers electronic accessories umbrellas spare shoes water backpacks large bags briefcases, but not purses . Read the signs please!

Great tours ! Docents are knowledgeable

Free Tours end 30 minutes before closing time.

Security check is very strict there. Take only camera there.

Enter the Visitors Center by first going to Library of Congress across the street. Use the the tunnel to the Visitors Center for shorter or virtually no lines .

Check out all the statues ! Obviously, pose like some of them and snap a picture too!

Friendly staff and well managed and organized .

Buy your Capitol gifts elsewhere-the prices here are really high.

Advance tickets were easy to get from my U.S. Senator's office . Well worth the effort. No wait time at all.

It's got some great coins and pens

The restaurant is expensive . If you can, get over to one of the cafes in the surrounding office buildings . It gives you an even better Capitol experience.

Very helpful in catering to the needs of students with special needs.

Leave plenty of time to get through security. Don't bring any food, drink or sharp objects.

Ask me for a tour . If I'm going on break I'll take you around without the hassle and crowds. I'll be in the cvc orat the gallery doors.

Every American needs to visit.

This is an awesome place to check out the state of US history and politics, esp if you have a short window to explore.

Come early - it opens at 830 am

Fantastic addition

They have the pens that congress and the president use to sign things into law but they are about $8 each I had to get some make my writing official

Approved to be built in 2001. Cost was $621 million. Opened in December 2008. 580,000 sq. ft. (larger than the Capitol itself).

The security lines aren’t as bad mid-day as they are in the morning.

Book your visit via web, it's much faster !

Amazing place

Where all can see, if eyes are open, the soft tyranny amongst us.

It's worth seeing.

Get an inside look at the interior of the brand new Capitol Visitor Center. Read more

Overpriced food here. Better of going to one of the House or Senate office buildings or the restaurants along Pennsylvania Ave.

Security Guards are a bit over the top with not letting any food items in, even sealed items. Why here? Verses all the other security points??

Don't bring your reusable water bottles. You can't take them inside whether they are full or empty.

Ask your Congressman or woman for a tour & don't try to bring in any food or beverages (not even empty bottles are allowed)!

Don't have tickets? A limited number of passes are handed out at 9am (get in line by 7am!) Powered by ParentsConnect.com

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center provides a welcoming and educational environment for visitors to learn about the unique characteristics of the U.S. Congress and the history of the U.S. Capitol. Read more

Try the chairs.

Eat the chocolate cake in the restaurant . Just do it.

The doors are real heavy

Security is tight. Leave most items at hotel . No food, no empty water containers, pretty much just you and maybe paper.