Iconic Capitol Hill Architectural Walking Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours

Mobile ticket

Explore the political core of Washington DC! This tour takes visitors through the heart of Federal power in Washington DC, looking at the history of our Nation’s Capital through the lens of architecture and urban planning. From the original L'Enfant city plan to the tumultuous construction of the Capitol and Grounds, the rise of the magnificent Beaux-Arts Library of Congress and imposing Supreme Court, and into the present day. Prolific designers like Thomas Jefferson, Robert Mills, Frederick Law Olmstead, and Daniel Burnham will feature prominently. Controversy, chaos, and red tape abound! A tour not to be missed by architecture and history enthusiasts.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough guests to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, an alternative or full refund will be provided.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Local guide

Gratuities

What To Expect

Union Station

We'll begin our tour in the massive Great Hall of Union Station, once the largest train station in the world. This crossroads of Presidents, diplomats, and politicians have seen the drastic transformation, from inaugurations to World Wars, and even a runaway train!

Admission Not Applicable

Columbus Memorial Fountain

After exploring the heights and depths of Union Station, we'll proceed past the Freedom Bell and Columbus "Fountain" to the steps of the Supreme Court.

5 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Walking Tour

Reviews

4.86

21 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great tour - warmly recommended!
554annikah,
Nov 28, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Absolute wonderful tour: informative and interesting. We'll definitely be doing this and other tours again with future visitors in town.
Awesome tour!
98anaisabelc,
Jun 22, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I would highly recommend this tour, even if you are not interested in design or architecture, you are going to love it! Sam was our guide and he was awesome, he told us about the history of every pllace we went to, he was able to answer every one of our questions, he had fun facts and he even had diagrams, plans, sections of the buildings in his iPad. I will highly encourage you to book this tour (nnot sponsored) or any other of DC Design tours.
Great tour!
Michelle B,
Mar 17, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00
Thanks for a great tour. Sam was personable, informative, and fun! Especially enjoyed the historical nuggets along with the architectural info.
Fantastic!
Cchristianw,
Dec 23, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
DC Design Tours and Carolyn are fantastic . You will not be disappointed. Carolyn had a wealth of interesting information and presented it in a way that we all enjoyed….even my teenagers! She is very personable and fun to spend the day with. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a DC tour!
Worth every penny.
MMagdalenaNavarro,
Sep 27, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Took my parents on this tour and we were very impressed by the guide's deep knowledge and ability to engage our group with fun anecdotes and a sympathetic, well-informed view of the past. It's my second tour with DC Design (I took the first five years ago) and I can't recommend them enough. Plus they were very flexible--when we had to cancel because of Covid, they offered us credit, so we were able to rebook a couple of months later without any problems.
A brilliant tour - highly recommended
christine a,
Aug 21, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a brilliant way to spend a couple of hours in the city. Our guide Sam delivered an interesting but fun tour, starting at Union Station and including the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and Capitol. Interesting features were pointed out and anecdotes told during a leisurely walk with time to take photos and ask questions. Recommended for everyone interested in finding out more about this beautiful city, how it was built and how it works today.
Great tour
049andie,
Aug 7, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour! Our guide was informative and funny. Even my teenager enjoyed it. Highly recommend this tour.
Interesting, fun tour
Ellenfishing,
Aug 5, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Terrific tours from our guide Carolyn at DC Design tours - we did a tour of the main monuments and it was so good we booked again and also did a tour of Arlington Cemetery. Carolyn tweaked the tours to suit our interests and stamina, held the kids (and adults) in rapt attention, answered all our questions and shared lots of details and history we would not otherwise have known with a lot of warmth and humour. Strongly recommended.
Memorial weekend trip
57marjorieb,
Jun 2, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We enjoyed learning about the buildings and local history! Our guide was knowledgeable and helped to make the tour special!
Couldn’t have been better!
Anne G,
Apr 4, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Carolyn was a wonderful guide for our family group of seven. We would definitely use her on our next trip to DC. And I’ve already recommended her to several friends. Thanks for perfect experience.