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The U.S. Capitol’s new front door

Years late, and overbudget, D.C.\'s newest tourist attraction opens

Federal News Network Staff

December 2, 2008 7:28 am

4 min read

By Max Cacas
FederalNewsRadio

Just in time for the holiday tourist season, Congressional leaders finally throw open the doors to the new Capitol Visitors Center today. But when those doors open to the public after the formal ceremonies, what will visitors find when they get to the newest tourist attraction in D.C.?

Terry Rouse heads Visitors Services with the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. She says the new facility, which is largely under the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol, will dramatically change things for visitors to the seat of America’s national legislature.

Over the years, as interest in the Capitol has increased, people have been standing in the cold, the rain, extreme heat and humidity waiting to get into this building. Congress recognized the need for the construction of a visitors center to provide greater security for all persons working in, or visiting the United States Capitol.

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Visitors will enter the Capitol Visitors Center on one of two long, sloping ramps from First Street, just across from the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. The Capitol’s acting Architect, Steven Ayers, says once past Capitol Police security, a visitor encounters the cavernous Emancipation Hall, a large, tall-ceilinged space which compares favorably with such landmarks as Grand Central Station in New York, or neighboring Union Station here in D.C.

“It’s primarily an organizing space,” he told reporters during a recent preview tour, as he also explained that Emancipation Hall also serves as a a staging area for visitors who will watch a 13 minute orientation film in one of two 250-seat movie theaters. The hall is also home to some statues donated to Congress’ Statuary Hall collection by the states to honor important residents.

Beyond the theaters is Exhibition Hall, a brand new museum about Congress and the Capitol. It was designed by Ralph Applebaum, best known in this area as the designer for both the original, and the new Newseum, which is just up the street from the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Ayers says one interactive feature of Exhibition Hall is just for kids of all ages, and has a big sign saying “please touch”.

The centerpiece of Exhibition Hall is this new, touchable model of the Capitol dome. You can see it go through a day-night cycle. It’s designed to be touched and felt.

Ayers adds that the touchable dome has already passed the test of climbing toddlers with flying colors.

Exhibition Hall also includes a series of historical displays providing a time-line of sorts, pairing the history of Congress with that of the nation it has helped shape and represent.

On the left hand side of each of these alcoves is what’s going on in the Senate at the time, on the right what’s going on in the House at that time, and the back panel is what’s going on in the country at the time, that was influencing what was going in in the Congress. In each of these alcoves, there’s also a model of the Capitol campus, and how it has developed over time.

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There are other portions of the Capitol Visitors Center complex that are not on the visitors tour.

There’s a new secure tractor trailer tunnel and loading dock on the north end of the Capitol building, providing for the first time a modern cargo handling facility .
There’s a new broadcast studio for the Congressional press galleries where, when completed, large groups of lawmakers can comfortably hold news briefings with both print and broadcast reporters.
Finally, with a nod to what DIDN’T happen on 9/11, there are two large auditorium-style theaters for public programs designed to serve as emergency House and Senate chambers if something happens to the Capitol itself.

And, though it isn’t discussed publicly, Congress could decide in the future to use the spacious Emancipation Hall as an indoor venue in case of bad weather for an Inauguration, as happened at the start of President Reagan’s second term. (Mr. Reagan’s 2nd Inaugural ceremony was crammed into the Capitol’s rotunda because of dangerously cold temperatures.) The space could also be used to more comfortably accomodate Joint Sessions of Congress for the President’s delivery of the State of the Union address. Architect Ayers says such one time uses would require joint resolutions of both the House and the Senate.

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On the Web:

FederalNewsRadio – Built for generations, but at what cost? (11/12/2008)
U.S. Capitol Visitors Center – http://visitthecapitol.gov/