The United States Capitol is the numero uno sightseeing place in Washington DC. What a magnificent building that shines bright in the sunlight. There were restricted entry hours when I visited and also I did not book a tour but the view from outside is breathtaking and was well worth the 3.5 miles that I walked straight from my hotel to the place early morning which is the best time to visit this white marvel. I was utterly surprised to find that taking photos was allowed everywhere outside.
The US Capitol is easily the starting point of the day-long walk in the area and I walked perhaps another 5 miles that day visiting the various museums and monuments leading to the Lincoln Memorial at the far end and then to the white house before returning to the hotel and all that without feeling tired.
The building being a widely recognized icon I expected huge crowds hence started in the morning of a weekday to avoid the crowds and it was exactly what I had thought. The place was less crowded and I got a chance to pose in front of this architecturally impressive structure like a VIP - all alone without anyone photo-bombing, thanks to my luck!
As iconic as the building is thanks to Hollywood, it truly is beauty all around. The history of the place is amazing and so was my brief stay there till more tourists started pouring in.
I would go back again if I could. I highly recommend starting your tour of DC from this magnificent place.
Quick Facts:
• 540 Rooms.
• 658 Windows.
• 8,909,200 pounds = Weight of the dome.
• On September 18, 1793, the cornerstone was laid by US President George Washington.
• In 1814 the building was Burned by the British.
• Designed by William Thornton.
• The statue atop the dome is called the Statue of Freedom.
• In 1922 the US Capitol featured on a US Postage stamp.
Have you been fortunate enough to get an exclusive photo in an otherwise crowded place? I’d be interested in knowing your experiences.
Until then… Happy Guiding ?
This article is part of the Washington DC #StateChallenge Meetup and Trivia Quiz hosted by @Kwiksatik and @Denise_Barlock
Accessibility Features
The area outside that I visited was generally accessible for the differently-abled though there weren’t any outstanding accessibility features worth mentioning since I also did not take the tour inside the building.
Ramp Access.
A wheelchair-accessible Entrance.
A wheelchair-accessible Parking.
Wheelchair-accessible Washroom/Toilet.
What Else To Do In Washington DC
While you are in DC, these are the top 10 recommended places:
