Frequently-asked Questions About Capitol Tours and the Online Reservation System
Recommended access to the Capitol is through the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) front doors where up to eight magnetometers are available to screen visitors during the busy tour season. The CVC entrance is open for tours Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. It may be open at other times for House and/or Senate gallery access or official business.
The tunnels from the Cannon House Office Building and the Russell Senate Office Building are also open to staff-led tours, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. You must stop at the designated tour desk in the respective tunnels to sign-in and receive CVC badges for each of your constituents. These CVC badges do not allow access to the Capitol and must be turned in at the Information Desk located on the lower level of the CVC when you receive your tour passes.
Tour size is limited to 15 guests per staff member. Staff may escort up to 15 people at a time on tours of the Capitol.
Staff must remain with groups they escort into the Capitol, and visitors must be escorted by staff while in the tunnel.
Timed tour passes are required for all Staff-led and CVC Guide-led Capitol tours. Timed tour passes may be reserved through the CVC’s online reservation system and are distributed at the Information Desks in the CVC.
Tour stickers are the top adhesive part of the tour passes, and they must be worn by visitors while in the Capitol. Timed tour passes are required as a way of controlling and tracking the number of people in the Capitol for safety and security purposes.
If online reservations are full, come to the Staff-Walkup line at the South Information Desk, and CVC staff will help you obtain same-day passes. During the busier times of the year, such as Spring and Summer, staff should expect a wait for same-day passes.
Staff are encouraged to begin their Staff-led tours at the Orientation Theaters on the lower level of the Capitol Visitor Center and generally follow the same tour route as the Guide-led tours.
Staff may escort constituents to the CVC and obtain passes for CVC Guide-led tours. When doing so, please inform constituents that they will be on a Guide-led tour so that they are not expecting your office staff to provide the tour.
Food and drink are prohibited in the Capitol and in the CVC. Food and drink are allowed only in the Capitol Cafe.
Congressional staff may book guide-led and staff-led tours through the CVC reservation system. To create an account, simply go to http://members.visitthecapitol.gov and follow the prompts to “sign up as a Congressional Tour Scheduler.” The system is very intuitive and easy to use for booking tours. There is a “Help” button which will direct you to FAQs related to the system. (Constituents and international visitors may also schedule their own Capitol tours through the CVC’s online reservation system. If an individual lacks Internet access, he or she may book tours by phone through CVC Visitor Services.)
If you have any questions about the CVC’s online reservation system, please contact the Visitor Services office at (202) 593-1762.
If your office is not able to book a tour through the CVC’s online reservation system, you may do the following:
Prior to the day of arrival: Continue to check availability on the website; it is continually updated after any cancellations. You may also call the Visitor Services office at (202) 593-1762 to inquire about any additional availability.
On the day of arrival: Inquire in person at the Staff Walk-Up line at the South Information Desk in Emancipation Hall. Timed passes for the next available tour are distributed throughout the day. The number of available same-day passes per tour time depends on the number of passes that are not claimed by reservations holders. As this number can vary greatly, please expect to wait for same-day passes during our peak visitation periods in the Spring and Summer.
A confirmation email is automatically sent to the registered tour scheduler. When creating the reservation, the tour scheduler may enter additional recipients for the confirmation email. The tour scheduler and any additional recipients will receive reminder emails prior to the date of their reservation.
Yes, you will be able to add a brief personal welcome message as well as an appropriately-sized image. The confirmation letter will also provide standard visitor information such as arrival information, a link to a map of Capitol Square, security information, and visitor tips. If you have any questions on how to create a customized confirmation letter, please call the Visitor Services office at (202) 593-1752.
Reserved timed tour passes are distributed from the Information Desks in Emancipation Hall, on the day of the tour, prior to the time reserved. Congressional Staff or visitors may collect their reserved passes by presenting the confirmation letter, confirmation number or other specific contact information to the CVC Visitor Services Staff at the information desks. Staff-led tours with confirmed reservations are encouraged to check in at the North Information Desk.
Same day passes are printed and distributed from the Staff-Led Walk-Up Line and the Public Without Reservations line at the South Information Desk for the next available tour after passes are requested. Staff and visitors without reservations should inquire about same-day passes by entering their respective walk-up lines. CVC Visitor Services staff are posted at strategic locations at the entrance and throughout the CVC to provide help and information.
Timed tour passes are required as a way of controlling and tracking the number of people in the Capitol for safety and security purposes. Note that the date and tour time on the pass corresponds to the time for the tour process to begin. This is the time that visitors will line up at the designated Orientation Theater, where the tour begins with an inspiring 13-minute orientation film, “Out of Many, One,” about the U.S. Capitol and Congress. Tours should generally end about an hour to an hour and a half after the time on the pass.
The CVC encourages constituents to view the film as it is an excellent introduction to seeing the Capitol and understanding how Congress works. If constituents are not going to watch the film, we ask that staff adhere to the time scheduled for their tours because of the Fire Marshal’s restrictions on the number of people who can be in the building at one time.
No, but staff must meet the constituents outside the orientation theater on the upper level across from the tour staging area. When you place your group into the line for the film, please check in with the CVC Visitor Services staff to let them know the group will be Staff-led. Let your group know you will meet them when they exit from the back of the theater.
No, reservations and timed tour passes are not required to enter the CVC through the main entrance. However, staff must obtain CVC badges for any visitors they are bringing through the Cannon or Russell tunnels to get to the CVC. Visitors are welcome to visit Exhibition Hall and enjoy the Gift Shops, Capitol Cafe and other amenities of the CVC without a tour pass. Reservations reserve a timed pass for a tour of the Capitol. Visitors are required to wear the stick-on portion of their timed tour pass while in the Capitol building.
Yes. Staff may use the Staff Walk-Up line at the South Information desk to request same-day passes for either Staff-led tours or Guide-led tours. Constituents who will be placed on a Guide-led tour should enter the appropriate Orientation Theater line at the designated time. After watching the film, they will join other visitors in their assigned staging lane on the Upper Level. Congressional staff do not have to stay with the constituents after placing them in line to view the orientation film. To prevent any confusion, it is important and helpful to inform constituents they will be on a Guide-led tour.
To accommodate Member offices during the Spring and Summer, the CVC offers early morning tours, called Congressional tours, at 8:30 a.m., Monday-Saturday. The tours must be reserved by staff by calling the Visitor Services office at (202) 593-1762. The CVC opens right at 8:30 a.m., so Staff should advise constituents to present their confirmation letter to Capitol Police and the CVC Visitor Services staff stationed at the main entrance. Congressional tours are led by CVC Visitor Guides. A maximum of 80 passes are available per day.
Yes. Staff may conduct Staff-led tours at 3:30 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. As with all Staff-led tours, the maximum number of constituents for these tour times is 15 per group. The tours must be scheduled by staff by calling the Visitor Services office at (202) 593-1762. Same-day passes for these times are also available at the Staff Walk-Up line. These time slots are for Staff-led tours only. There are no Guide-led tours at this time.
Same-day tour passes are distributed for the next available tour after passes are requested. Same-day passes are actually unclaimed reserved passes, which usually become available every 10 minutes. However, the number available for distribution depends on how many passes are not claimed by reservation holders. The goal of the CVC is to provide a same-day tour to anyone requesting it within the requirements for safety and security. Due to the high demand for passes during the Spring and Summer, staff should expect to wait for same-day passes.
Congressional staff are encouraged to follow the approved tour route, which is also followed for tours led by CVC Visitor Guides. This facilitates the flow of foot traffic and reduces congestion and confusion along the route. At certain times of the year, the Old Senate Chamber and Old Supreme Court Chamber, which are part of the approved tour route, are not included on tours led by CVC Visitor Guides. However, staff are still permitted to take tours to these locations. For a copy of the tour route map, please contact the CVC’s Congressional Liaisons at (202) 593-0048.
Timed tour passes are required to manage the number of people in the Capitol in adherence to the Fire Marshal’s requirements for safety and security. The CVC is responsible for issuing all timed tour passes.
No. Staff are required to accompany constituents at all times while they are in the Capitol. However, staff do not need to accompany constituents while they take advantage of offerings in the CVC.
Encourage constituents to visit the CVC’s Exhibition Hall, the only exhibition in the world dedicated to telling the story of Congress and the Capitol. Highlights include rarely seen historic documents, artifacts from around the country and an 11-foot-tall touchable model of the Capitol dome. Constituents may also view the statues in Emancipation Hall or visit the Capitol Cafe and Gift Shops.
The Capitol is available for tours Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. All tours must be out of the building by no later than 4:30 p.m. Please keep in mind, the CVC also closes to the public at 4:30 p.m. However, official business and gallery pass holders may remain in the building with appropriate appointments or passes (if the Senate or House is in session). Gallery passes must be issued by your office. The CVC does not issue gallery passes.
Congressional events may limit access for tours in the Capitol and/or CVC. Dear Colleagues are sent to each office outlining the impact of events on tours. Information will be sent by the CVC to individuals with reservations. Alerts will also be posted on the CVC’s website and social media.
Note: The hours of operation outlined above do not apply to Member-led tours.
Gallery passes are available through the offices of the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms.
Please feel free to call the Visitor Services office at (202) 593-1762.