United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. (Photo Guide)

Updated May 1, 2026 / By

The United States Capitol Building sits at the east end of the National Mall and is one of the most recognizable buildings in Washington DC. The neoclassical columns, the cast-iron dome, and the long sightlines down the Mall make it a hard subject to skip if you’re shooting in DC.

The US Capitol is one of my favorite places to photograph in DC. The west side faces the Mall and is the busier side for tourists. The east side has the marble plaza and the Senate and House office buildings around it, and is usually the less crowded side. The one downside of photographing the Capitol is that you can’t go up on the stairs for a higher vantage of the Mall.

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Table of contents

Getting to the US Capitol Building

Silhouette of the U.S. Capitol dome against a vivid orange and pink sunrise sky
United States Capitol Dome

The U.S. Capitol building in centrally located in DC on the east side of the National Mall. If you’re anywhere on the National Mall you’ll most likely be able to see the Capitol dome. Located behind the United States Capitol is the Library of Congress, Supreme Court, and various office buildings.

If you plan on taking the Metro to the Capitol there are a few stops you can take. To get to the Capitol you can take the Capitol South station (0.2 mile orange/silver/blue line) or Union Station (0.8 mile, red line).

I find parking around the US Capitol typically easy. You can usually find free stops near the east side in the Capitol Hill neighborhood or paid spots on the west side around the National Mall.

You can always take a Capital Bikeshare bike or rented scooters to the Capitol building as well.

United States Capitol Building on Google Maps

History of the United States Capitol

Construction of the U.S. Capitol started on September 18, 1793, based on a design by William Thornton. Congress first met in the building in 1800. British forces burned it during the 1814 Burning of Washington, and the building was restored within five years.

The two large wings on either side were added in the 1850s as Congress outgrew the original building. The House of Representatives meets in the south wing and the Senate meets in the north wing. The current cast-iron dome, designed by Thomas U. Walter, replaced an earlier dome and was topped with the Statue of Freedom in 1863.

The dome went through a major exterior restoration from 2014 to 2016, which is why a few photos in this guide show scaffolding wrapped around it.

Photos of the United States Capitol Building

Here are my photos of the U.S. Capitol building over years of living in Washington DC. No matter your lens or camera wandering the grounds of the US Capitol is always a stunning sight.

If you’d like to buy a print check out U.S. Capitol building prints.

The U.S. Capitol east front under a pink and orange sunrise, mirrored in a wet plaza reflection
The lit U.S. Capitol at blue hour, reflected symmetrically in the Capitol Reflecting Pool
View of the US Capitol with Inauguration flags
Pink and orange sunrise sky over the U.S. Capitol with the Reflecting Pool in the foreground
Sunrise at the US Capitol
East front of the U.S. Capitol on a clear day with people walking and biking across the plaza
The U.S. Capitol at sunset framed by an inscribed bronze marker in the foreground
Sunset at the US Capitol
Red and yellow tulips in the foreground with the U.S. Capitol dome behind under a cloudy sky
Tulips at the US Capitol
The lit U.S. Capitol at night with the Capitol Christmas Tree and Reflecting Pool in front
US Capitol with Capitol Christmas tree
Aerial view of the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall from the top of the Washington Monument
View of the US Capitol from the Washington Monument
The U.S. Capitol east front lit up at night with a puddle reflection on the marble plaza
Night at the Capitol
The U.S. Capitol photographed during a heavy snowstorm with low visibility
Snow at the US Capitol
The U.S. Capitol east plaza on a sunny day with the dome under a partly cloudy sky
Close-up of the U.S. Capitol dome at night beside the lit, multicolored Capitol Christmas Tree
View of the U.S. Capitol through a glass barrier on the National Gallery of Art East Building roof terrace
View of the US Capitol from NGA
The U.S. Capitol dome wrapped in scaffolding during the 2014 to 2016 restoration, photographed at night
US Capitol under construction
Black-and-white photograph of the U.S. Capitol west front from across the National Mall
Side view of the U.S. Capitol dome and Statue of Freedom under a clear blue sky with wispy clouds
Close-up of the U.S. Capitol dome and Statue of Freedom at dusk with the rotunda windows glowing gold
A skateboarder rolling along the brick path leading toward the U.S. Capitol at sunset
The U.S. Capitol east front at twilight with the dome and rotunda windows lit from within
The U.S. Capitol dome at sunset, framed by a tree silhouette on the left
The U.S. Capitol east plaza under dark storm clouds with the wet ground reflecting the dome
Photographer's red sneakers in the foreground looking out across the wet east plaza toward the U.S. Capitol
Silhouette of a photographer in front of the lit U.S. Capitol dome at night
Long-exposure photograph of streaking clouds over the U.S. Capitol east front and marble plaza
Pink and red tulips in close foreground with the U.S. Capitol dome rising behind under cloudy skies
US Capitol Tulips
A hand holding an iPhone displaying a Capitol photo, with the actual U.S. Capitol behind it at sunset
The U.S. Capitol at sunrise with the dome mirrored in a puddle on the asphalt below
Long-exposure sunrise photograph of the U.S. Capitol reflected in the Capitol Reflecting Pool
Red tulips in tight foreground with the U.S. Capitol dome rising in the background
Tree-lined approach to the U.S. Capitol on an overcast day, with the dome centered down the path
Red summer flowers in the foreground with the U.S. Capitol dome and trees in the background
The U.S. Capitol silhouetted against an orange and purple sunset, photographed across an empty parking lot
Dark storm clouds over the U.S. Capitol with orange sunset light glowing along the horizon
Winter sunrise at the U.S. Capitol with a Grant Memorial lion statue silhouetted in the foreground
A padlocked security fence with the U.S. Capitol blurred behind, photographed during the 2021 perimeter fencing
Fence at the US Capitol
Tight detail shot of the U.S. Capitol dome and the Statue of Freedom against a pale grey sky
Capitol dome close up
Red and pink Fourth of July fireworks bursting behind the lit U.S. Capitol dome at night
4th of July Fireworks at the US Capitol
The Bartholdi Fountain spraying water with the U.S. Capitol dome behind it on a summer day
Water spraying from the Bartholdi Fountain with the U.S. Capitol dome and U.S. flag in the background
The Bartholdi Fountain centered in front of the U.S. Capitol on a summer day

Permits and Photography Details at the US Capitol

Typically the grounds of the Capitol building are open 24/7 so you are free to roam unless there is an event or special security enforcement. Tripod are prohibited anywhere but grassy areas without permit. The Capitol Police are typically informative so just ask questions if you aren’t sure where you can take pictures.

If you want to use a tripod or other photography equipment on paved areas you can request a permit on their website.

I love photographing the building anytime of day but if you go around blue hour you can get great shots of the dome lit up. Especially when capturing the reflection in the large marble slabs on the east side of the Capitol.

The U.S. Capitol east front lit at blue hour with the dome reflected in the wet marble plaza
US Capitol building at night

United States Capitol Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit the U.S. Capitol?

Yes. The grounds are open to the public and you’re free to walk the perimeter, the east plaza, and the surrounding park areas. To go inside the building you need to be on a tour through the Capitol Visitor Center, which is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Sundays). You can book a tour ahead of time.

Is the U.S. Capitol free to visit?

Yes. All tours, programs, and activities at the Capitol Visitor Center are free of charge.

What’s included on a Capitol tour?

The standard tour visits the Crypt, the Rotunda, and National Statuary Hall. The Senate and House galleries are not part of the tour, but you can visit them separately with gallery passes.

Where do you enter the U.S. Capitol for a tour?

All tours start at the Capitol Visitor Center, which is the underground entrance on the east side of the building. Plan a few extra minutes for the security screening before your tour time.

What’s near the U.S. Capitol?

The Supreme Court is directly behind the Capitol on the east side. The Library of Congress sits across 1st Street, and the United States Botanic Garden is on the southwest corner of the grounds. Most visitors fit the Capitol into a day on the National Mall alongside the Smithsonian museums.

What’s the best time to photograph the U.S. Capitol?

The Capitol photographs well year-round. Sunrise on the east side gives you warm light on the dome and far fewer tourists. Blue hour is great for catching the dome lit up against a deep blue sky, with the wet marble on the east plaza giving you reflections after rain. Fall adds color to the surrounding trees, and the spring tulip beds on the west side make for a nice foreground.

Thanks for reading my U.S. Capitol travel guide. The Capitol grounds are open year-round and most visitors can fit a stop into a day on the National Mall alongside the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and Botanic Garden. If you want to go inside the building, book a tour ahead of time.

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