Rather than the chaos of trying to figure out how to visit the various U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives buildings, it provides one focal point from which to enter the Capitol complex. Security, thank God, is very, very tight at the entrance especially, but throughout the edifice.
The People's House has a new visitor's center called the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. It is a wonder to experience and will restore your faith in the U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress.
The U.S. Capitol Police are professionals and get you through quickly but with the proper regard to prevent some jihadi or deranged individual who will be drawn to attack the beauty of these buildings and what they represent as symbols of American Democracy.
- You first report to a visitor's desk and are issued a bar coded pass. You wear one half of the bar coded pass on your shirt as you progress through the buildings
- A guide issues you headphones so you can hear her talk about the exhibits and history without hearing other guides guiding other groups about at the same time.
Everyone will experience their visit in a different way. Below are a few photos of my visit.