What to know before visiting the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
The United States Capitol, also known as the Capitol Building, serves as both the venue where the United States Congress convenes and the location of the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. At the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., it is situated on Capitol Hill. For a school trip to Washington, D.C., we’ll go over the numerous ways you can see the Capitol below.
Field trips to the US Capitol can be extremely educational.
Only school groups on guided tours are permitted access to the Capitol. Monday through Saturday, 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM, tours are given. Tours of the Capitol are not offered on Sundays.
Consider adding more time to your schedule so that you can observe the House and Senate Chamber galleries and stop by the offices of your senators and/or representatives. When the Senate is in session, guests are welcome in the Senate Chamber’s gallery. When the House is in session, as well as from 9 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday when the House is not in session, the House of Representatives Chamber gallery is accessible to visitors.
You can get gallery passes through your senator’s or representative’s office. By entering your ZIP code or seeing by state, use the Find your Representative function in the banner. On the Senate website, you can find your senator.
On a tour conducted by a guide, all visitors see the Capitol’s historic parts. The tour includes stops at National Statuary Hall, the Rotunda, and the Crypt. The Senate and House Galleries are not included in the tour because they call for separate passes.
Visitors from all around the United States and the world are warmly welcomed at the Capitol Visitor Center. To access the Capitol or take a tour, no identification is necessary.
All tours, events, and programs are free to participate in.
It is crucial that students have the opportunity to witness the place where our nation’s laws are drafted and approved because it is the heart of our democracy. the history of the structure as well as the history of our Founding Fathers and those individuals who remained steadfast in their convictions.
We highly recommend including a visit to the US Capitol Building on your next field trip with your class to Washington, D.C. Click the link below to view our itinerary!
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