Visitor Services

For many visitors, a trip to Washington, D.C. is a once in a lifetime event. The staff of the Architect of the Capitol plays an important role in those visits. Our team meets, greets and guides visitors on a daily basis.

The United States Capitol Building is a monument, a working office and one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world.

Visitors enter the building through the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, located underground on the east side of the U.S. Capitol. You can begin your Capitol experience at the visitor center by touring Exhibition Hall, visiting our gift shops or dining in our restaurant. We encourage you to plan your visit today.

The U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) is a museum with a difference - our artifacts are the living treasures of the world.

As a living plant museum, our collections, including plants, their leaves, flowers fruits and labels inspire conservation and love of organic life. Visitors can explore the Conservatory, National Garden and Bartholdi Park located west of the U.S. Capitol near Independence and First Streets, SW. We invite you to visit the USBG and return again and again, to watch us grow and see our ever-changing exhibits.