'''Capitol Hill''' is a district of Washington, D.C., to the east of the National Mall and to the south of the Near Northeast.

Understand

Capitol Hill plays a central role in the country's political life, as two of the three branches of the federal government—the legislative and the judicial—are located here. Washington D.C.'s layout centers on Capitol Hill, with the city's four quadrants starting at the Capitol Building.

Get in

Blue and Orange Metro lines have stations just south of the hill at '''Federal Center''' and '''Capitol South'''. '''Eastern Market''' can be reached on the same line. The Red line has a station just to the north at '''Union Station'''.

Note that driving is restricted around the center of the hill to only government officials.

See

  • Capitol Building. etro: Union Station on the Red Line; Capitol South on the Blue or Orange Lines.. 1-(202)-226-8000. ttp://www.visitthecapitol.gov/. -Sa 8:30AM-4:30PM. ree. The center of the legislative branch of America is home to the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as numerous impressive paintings, statues, historical exhibits, and one magnificent dome. A new Visitor Center recently opened, which features a exhibition of the history of the Capitol and of Congress. Tours of the Capitol building can be arranged through the Visitor Center website (or by calling or emailing your Representative's or Senator's office a few weeks in advance). Tours start from within the Visitor Center. You may not bring food/drinks inside—if that's a problem, nip over to a place such as the Library of Congress where you can deposit your bag and come back. If lines for security are long, an alternative is to use the tunnel from the Library of Congress.

  • Congressional Cemetery. 801 E Street, SE. All sorts of notables from American history found their final resting place here, from composer John Sousa to FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover.

  • '''Eastern Market''' A public market housed in a 19th century brick building is located on 7th Street SE, a few blocks east of the U.S. Capitol. The market itself is open every day, weekends bring an additional influx of vendors ranging from local farmers to antique furniture. (The market still runs, but is housed in a temporary structure across the street from the original site, which is being rebuilt in the wake of a destructive fire.)
  • Folger Shakespeare Library. 01 East Capitol Street, SE. 1-(202)-544?7077. 1-(202)-544?7420. ttp://www.folger.edu. -Sa 10AM-4PM. Houses the world's largest Shakespeare collection and has a replica of Shakespeare's Globe theatre.

  • Supreme Court. irst St & Maryland Ave NE. 1 202 479-3211. ttp://www.supremecourtus.gov. -F 9AM-4:30PM. This is the center of the US Judicial Branch and, of the three branches, is the one that commands the greatest respect in American political life. Visitors can watch the court in session M-W, from October-April, with admission on a first-come, first-served basis. The rest of the year, public lectures are held every hour in the courtroom. The spiral staircases on the sides of the court room are beautiful and impressive parts of the building not to be missed. Here's a bit of trivia: the court didn't even have its own building until 1935, until then it was held in the Capitol building.

  • Library of Congress. 0 1st St SE. 1 202 707-8000. ttp://www.loc.gov. -Sa 10:30AM-5:30PM. ree. Originally founded by the third U.S. president, Thomas Jefferson, this grand building, also called the Jefferson Library, has the largest collection of books in the world. The most popular points of interest are the massive main reading room and '''Great Hall'''. On the Winter and Summer solstices the Great Hall is filled with an odd silver glow that gives the impression you are surrounded by floating clouds, and this makes those days the most crowded. The main reading room is known as the '''Sacred Room''', and is absolutely stunning. You must be 18 or older to use the reading rooms and have a user card, which can be obtained by presenting a driver's license or completing a self registration form. Guided tours will not bring you into the reading room, but will take you up in the dome, where you can see the room in its full glory. There are also a number of rotating exhibitions from the Library's vast collection on display at any one time, as is a '''Gutenberg Bible'''.

  • US Botanic Garden. ttp://www.usbg.gov. 0AM-5PM. Bartholdi Park, south of the conservatory, is open dawn to dusk.

    Do

  • '''Walk around''' The hill has many fine monuments, like the capitol reflecting pool, and memorials to Robert & Ulysses Grant
  • Buy

    Eat

    Dining options on the Hill have expanded greatly recently:

  • '''America''' In Union Station, it offers a lengthy 'diner-plus' menu with many classic American dishes, at 50 Massachusetts Avenue, Telephone: 682-9555
  • '''Belga Cafe'''http://belgacafe.com/ On Barracks Row (8th Street south of Pennsylvania Ave.), the name explains it: authentic Belgian food and Belgian beers. 514 8th St SE, Telephone: 544-0100
  • '''B. Smith's''' Great Southern Creole food in an ornate setting, also at Union Station on 50 Massachusetts Avenue, Telephone: 289-6188
  • '''Capitol Hill Brewing Company''' Above the National Postal Museum, is a restaurant/bar at 2 Massachusetts Avenue, Telephone: 842-2337
  • '''Capitol Visitor Center''' Inside the Visitor Center, OK standard tourist fare.
  • '''Hawk and Dove''' A British style pub but with American food, at 329 Pennsylvania Avenue, Telephone: 543-3300
  • '''Market Lunch''' Regional food like crab cakes with cafeteria style breakfast, but crowded Saturday mornings, at 225 7th Street inside '''Eastern Market''', Telephone: 547-8444
  • '''Montmartre''' One of D.C.'s better French restaurants, with traditional bistro fare, just steps from Eastern Market at 327 7th St SE, Telephone: 544-1244
  • '''Tunnicliff's''' New Orleans style cuisine with a wooden interior, at 222 7th street, Telephone: 546-3663
  • '''Two Quail''' Cozy American bistro at 320 Massachusetts Avenue, Telephone: 543-8030
  • Drink

  • Banana Cafe & Piano Bar. ttp://www.bananacafedc.com/. A Cuban/Puerto Rican bar and restaurant. They have a piano bar on the second floor. Excellent happy hour special featuring $3 margaritas.

    Sleep

  • '''Capitol Hill Suites''' All suite, with a cozy lobby, 200 C Street, Telephone: 543-6000 Fax:547-2608
  • '''Holiday Inn on the Hill''' Is great for families, with a big play area, under 18 stay free, 415 New Jersey Avenue, Telephone: 638-1616 Fax: 638-0707
  • '''Hotel George''' A trendy boutique with airy rooms and a French restaurant. 15 E Street, Telephone: 202-347-4200 Fax: 202-347-4213, [http://www.hotelgeorge.com].
  • Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. 00 New Jersey Avenue. ttp://www.washingtonregency.hyatt.com. Large, plant filled atrium. Occupying a full city block in the heart of Capitol Hill, 2 blocks from the U.S. Capitol and Union Station.

  • '''Phoenix Park Hotel''' Rooms furnished in 18th century Irish Manor style, with Irish entertainers at the bar, 520 North Capitol Street, Telephone: 638-6900 Fax: 393-3236 [http://www.phoenixparkhotel.com]
  • Contact

    Get out