Emancipation Hall : Under the East Plaza : U.S. Capitol
As a result of several security incidents at the U.S. Capitol in the last 15 years and because of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the U.S. government constructed a new space for channeling visitors through the Capitol complex that allows for tighter security and regulated traffic flow. The result is the $621 million, 580,000 square foot (54,000 square meter) underground
Capitol Visitor's Center (CVC), which--after six years of construction delays and cost overruns--finally opened to the public in December 2008.
Replica of the Statue of Freedom that sits atop the Capitol Dome
I generally try to be enthusiastic about things to see and do in D.C., but aside from the introductory film "Out of Many, One", the
Capitol Visitor's Center is a disappointment. At least, it is if you recall a time when you could freely walk in and out of the Capitol and if you've ever been on a tour led by a legislative aide from your respective senator's or representative's office. Now, it's all very streamlined. You have to have tickets to take a tour--they're free, but reservations are required--and the process to visit the House or Senate galleries involves going through so many security checkpoints, it's hardly worth it.
Interior Dome on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol
While I won't outright discourage people from contacting their legislator to arrange tours of the Capitol, I will tell you the only advantage this gives you over the large, general public tours is you get to go to the head of the line and you're in a group that's likely five people or less. But those are the only advantages now.
Unfortunately, unlike in the past, you end up with the same tour as those who didn't contact their legislator. And that's the sad part. Use to be, when you contacted your state's legislator, you not only got a tour of the general areas of the Capitol along with the general public, but you got to see special areas like the
Brumidi Corridors, which the general public did not. Not anymore. And that's a shame really. What should be the house of the people has become so buttoned down and sterile, it barely inspires like it once did. The saving graces of the Capitol are the Rotunda with the
Apotheosis of Washington and Statuary Hall and that's about it.*
On top of that, there was a time when you could walk around the upper perimeters of the Capitol and enjoy spectacular vistas of the National Mall from the west side of the building. This is no longer possible and that, too, is unfortunate.**
The U.S. Capitol as seen from the newly installed East Plaza.
This concrete plaza is the roof of the underground visitor's center and replaces
a beautiful series of gardens and walkways that previously graced the front of
the Capitol--all for the sake of security.
A note to the CVC's personnel: Get your crap together on how you guide people through the coat check/electronics devices check for visiting the Senate and House galleries. Your system is confusing and unclear, your staffers suck and they yell at people needlessly. Trying to visit the Senate gallery was
not a good experience.
* Maybe I've lived in D.C. too long or I remember too fondly what past tours were like. I'd still take visitors to see the Capitol, because you can't come to Washington and not see it, but for me it was a bit of a let down. Lots of sterile, contemporary grandeur, but no spirit.
** So much for not letting the terrorists win.
Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 02/09
My very last picture of Washington, D.C., taken from the car.
