Capitol Hill Landmarks

This walking tour connects the grand monumental landmarks of American democracy with the charming, leafy streets of the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood, ending at the bustling Eastern Market.

Listen to this tour in the Mira app →

1. United States Botanic Garden

The United States Botanic Garden features a massive, tiered glass conservatory that rises above the surrounding gardens like a crystalline wedding cake. Established by Congress in eighteen twenty, this collection holds thousands of…

2. United States Capitol

The United States Capitol building features a white cast iron dome that rises two hundred and eighty-eight feet above the National Mall. Congress drafted the blueprint for the nation here, and the building serves as the meeting place for…

3. Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument

The Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument is a narrow, four-story brick house at the corner of Constitution Avenue and Second Street. Its distinctive dark gray shutters and red-brick facade stand apart from the massive marble…

4. Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court building stands behind sixteen massive Corinthian columns, carved from white Vermont marble. For nearly a century and a half, the justices heard cases in cramped rooms inside the Capitol, often tucked into the basement.…

5. Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building

The Thomas Jefferson Building is capped by a copper dome that has weathered to a distinct, pale green, catching the light above the surrounding government buildings. Congress authorized this grand structure in eighteen eighty-six to house…

6. Folger Shakespeare Library

The Folger Shakespeare Library features a windowless facade of white Georgia marble, punctuated by nine relief panels depicting scenes from Shakespearean plays. Henry Clay Folger, a former president of Standard Oil, spent decades gathering…

7. Eastern Market

The long red brick hall of Eastern Market stands out for its steep, gabled roof and the iron-crested ventilation monitors perched on top. Architect Adolf Cluss designed this building in eighteen seventy-three to provide a sanitary, orderly…

The audio tour continues in the Mira app →