Historic Site · Washington, D.C., United States
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. Built 1793.
Photo: Martin Falbisoner via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Built | 1793 |
| Architect | William Thornton, Étienne Sulpice Hallet |
| Height | Height: 88 m |
| Coordinates | 38.8897° N, 77.0089° W |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What United States Capitol is known for
The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government.
About United States Capitol
The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Although no longer at the geographic center of the national capital, the U.S.
History
18th century Prior to establishing the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., the United States Congress and its predecessors met at Independence Hall and Congress Hall in Philadelphia; Federal Hall in New York City, and five additional locations: York, Pennsylvania; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland; Nassau Hall in Princeton, New Jersey; and Trenton, New Jersey. In September 1774, the First Continental Congress brought together delegates from the colonies in Philadelphia, followed by the Second Continental Congress, which met from May 1775 to March 1781. After adopting the Articles of Confederation in York, Pennsylvania, the Congress of the Confederation was formed and convened in Philadelphia from March 1781 until June 1783, when a mob of angry soldier
Planning a visit? Visit the official United States Capitol website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) |
| Distance from the airport | 3.1 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) · Washington, United States · 3.0 miles away
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) · Dulles, United States · 24.3 miles away
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) · Baltimore, United States · 26.9 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in United States
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is United States Capitol?
The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government.
Where is United States Capitol located?
United States Capitol is in Washington, D.C., United States. Its coordinates are 38.8897° N, 77.0089° W.
How do I get to United States Capitol?
The nearest town is Washington, D.C., and the nearest airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), about 3.1 miles away (straight line).
When was United States Capitol built?
United States Capitol was built 1793.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54109 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.aoc.gov/cc/capitol/index.cfm — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.