New Blog On D.C.'s Scandals

At SidewalkGuides, we're always looking for new ideas that bring D.C.'s past to life. A new blog caught our attention that you might find as interesting as we did, at http://quondamwashington.blogspot.com/.

The Capitol Visitors' Center Opens...Finally

More than 10 years after the idea was first hatched, the U.S. Capitol visitors center opened late last year. It was supposed to be completed in time for President Bush's second inaugural, but that date came and went. The massive 580,000 square foot (that is not a misprint) underground center is the largest addition to the Capitol since the Civil War. Inside, visitors can find exhibits on the history of the Capitol building and the legislative branch of government.


The primary purposes of the center are to accomodate the larger crowds coming to the Capitol and maintain security. Officials wanted an underground center to keep as close as possible to landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead's original 1876 plan for the Capitol's East Front. The East Front was historically the location for Inaugural Addresses, including Lincoln's second inaugural address, with John Wilkes Booth in the audience. Our Civil War Tour discusses this historic address and much more.

Now, tourists seeking a Capitol tour can book tickets online. While it's been a little while since we went on one, we recall them being first-rate.