U.S. Capitol, Washington DC: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

The U.S. Capitol sits on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the seat of the United States Congress since 1800. The building's cast-iron dome, completed during the Civil War in 1863, rises 88 meters and is topped by the bronze Statue of Freedom. The Rotunda beneath the dome displays eight large historical paintings and a 433-square-meter fresco by Constantino Brumidi on the canopy above. The Capitol Visitor Center, a 55,000-square-meter underground facility opened in 2008, serves as the starting point for guided tours. is just one of many options in Washington DC. Major attractions worth considering include Arlington National Cemetery, Ford's Theatre, and Georgetown.