Accessibility at the Capitol

Everyone benefits from accessibility! Please use the resources below to guide your day at the Capitol.

Our Hill Day will consist of moderate walking (3 miles) between the House and the Senate. Bathrooms are found on every floor of office buildings. Unfortunately, there are few water fountains displayed in the hallways, but we encourage you to bring a reusable water container. Congressional offices have watercoolers, and staff are happy to fill it up for you. For medical devices, we also encourage you to ask congressional offices to charge them as there are few outlets available in the hallway.

In case of a non-life-threatening situation, we will have a staffer stationed at the Longworth Cafeteria (House) and the Dirksen Cafeteria (Senate) who can assist you.

Any additional questions can be sent to Maria Amalla at mamalla@unfoundation.org

You may have some down time in between congressional meetings and might want to book a tour of the Capitol.

The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended for a tour. Visit the schedule a tour page to select a day/time. All tours, programs and activities are free of charge.

Visitors enter the Capitol Visitor Center, which is located underground on the east side of the Capitol. Please leave time to go through security and review the U.S. Capitol’s prohibited items list before your visit.

If a Capitol tour is not within your capacity, you can also obtain a Capitol experience at the Visitor Center by visiting the Exhibition Hall, perusing the Gift Shops, or getting a bite to eat at the Capitol Cafe.

More Accessibility Info

The following picture is an accessible pathway of the Capitol campus, provided by the Architect of the Capitol.

Every Library of Congress visitor, regardless of age, must have a free time-entry pass to enter the Thomas Jefferson Building. Passes are available in 15-minute increments during operating hours. The Thomas Jefferson Building is open to visitors Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm and until 8:30pm on Thursdays. Please note: the library is closed for public visits on Sundays and Mondays. We release time-entry passes 30 days in advance. Each visitor may reserve up to (20) passes per day. Visit the schedule a tour page to select a day/time.

More Accessibility Info

The following picture is a map of accessible entrances for the Library of Congress.

Reporting an EMERGENCY from a CELL PHONE within the Capitol Complex:

U.S. House of Representatives (202) 225-0911

U.S. Senate (202) 224-0911

Library of Congress (202) 707-7111

Information for Victims and Witnesses of a Crime:

(202) 224-5151

Non-Emergency Police Services on the Capitol Campus (24 hours a day):

(202) 224-5151

Lost and Found:

(202) 225-4200

Accessibility at the Capitol

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