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U.S. Capitol

Destinations

Where legislation and legacy meet

The U.S. Capitol is the epicenter of American governance, its neoclassical dome a beacon of democracy and debate.

The U.S. Capital building is among the most symbolically important and architecturally impressive buildings in the nation. The Capitol is also one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world. After all, it houses the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Insider Insight

The Capitol’s iconic dome is not just for show—it’s home to a tiny space known as the Whispering Gallery, located beneath the dome. Sound carries unusually well across its curved walls, meaning a whisper on one side can be clearly heard on the other. Another little-known gem? There’s a crypt beneath the Rotunda, originally intended as George Washington’s final resting place. Though he was never buried there, the crypt remains an intriguing, often overlooked site. Look for the bronze compass set into the floor marking D.C.’s original meridian.

Democracy, domed and dignified.
The Smalls