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Places to go in Capitol Hill.

The Capitol, Library of Congress, Supreme Court. 3 places worth the drive in this corner of Washington DC.

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United States Capitol Attractions

United States Capitol

Washington, DC · Capitol Hill

The white dome that crowns Capitol Hill is the working home of Congress, and you can walk right in. Free guided tours leave from the underground Capitol Visitor Center and lead you up into the Rotunda, where the soaring frescoed ceiling and the marble statues of National Statuary Hall reward a long look up. Book a timed pass ahead, save time for the east front steps, and you have a front-row seat to the building where the country's arguments get made.

Library of Congress Attractions

Library of Congress

Washington, DC · Capitol Hill

The world's largest library hides one of the most jaw-dropping rooms in Washington behind a Beaux-Arts facade across from the Capitol. Climb to the second-floor overlook and you are staring down into the Main Reading Room, a domed octagon ringed with marble columns and reader tables fanning out under a 160-foot ceiling, while the Great Hall below holds a 1455 Gutenberg Bible and Thomas Jefferson's own surviving library. Admission is free, though the Thomas Jefferson Building now runs on free timed-entry passes, so reserve one before you go.

Supreme Court of the United States Attractions

Supreme Court of the United States

Washington, DC · Capitol Hill

The highest court in the country sits behind sixteen marble columns at the top of a wide flight of steps, with "Equal Justice Under Law" carved into the pediment overhead and two seated Fraser statues flanking the entrance. Admission is free and the building is open to the public on weekdays, where you can walk the Great Hall, peek into the courtroom, and catch a courtroom lecture when the justices are not in session. Come on an argument morning if you want to try for one of the limited first-come seats, or just climb the steps for one of the best vantage points on Capitol Hill.