Meaningful Moments

There’s never a dull moment for Visitor Guides and Assistants. Every day we interact with hundreds, sometimes thousands of people. Some come for school trips, some for events, and others because they have always wanted to see the U.S. Capitol. Whether working for Congress assisting in a special event or interacting with Members of Congress, their guests, or the everyday visitors, each day offers the opportunity for a meaningful moment.

Personal Connections

An Unexpected Meeting

My Congressional Gold Medal Connection

“In 2024, I worked the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in recognition of Rosie the Riveter. I was especially proud to be there in honor of my Great Aunt Betty Lee 'BT.'
In 1942, BT moved from Alexandria, Minnesota, to San Diego, California, to join her husband while he completed flight school. Shortly after the war began, BT started working at Consolidated Aircraft assembling Consolidated B-24 Liberator tails. Her husband never made it home from the war, but BT continued to work as an assembler. While welcoming dozens of surviving Rosies to the Capitol, I couldn’t help but think about and thank the strong, determined women who showed the world 'We Can Do It!'”
— Former Visitor Guide Ani

Walking in the Footsteps of My Great-Grandfather

“When I started working at the Capitol Visitor Center and watched the orientation film, I immediately recognized the young boys dressed in work clothes with black soot covering their faces. They were breaker boys who worked in the coalmines.
My family has roots in the anthracite coal region near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and my great grandfather John J. Casey was one of those breaker boys. He became a congressman who championed workers’ rights and support for immigrants and veterans. John J. Casey was re-elected to the 71st Congress for his sixth term. Before being sworn in, he died while on an inspection trip to the Panama Canal Zone on May 5, 1929. Pursuant to H.R. 39, he was sworn in posthumously May 6, 1929, and a memorial service was held in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
— Retired Visitor Guide Regina

A Meaningful Honor

“I tended the west door of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda during the lying in state event for President Jimmy Carter. My father was born one year after Jimmy Carter was born, and he passed away the year before Jimmy Carter died. They were so much alike: both Navy, both engineers, both physically fit and active far into their senior years, both spiritual, both valued peace, both family men. I respected President Carter for much of what he did in the 100 years of his life, but especially all that he accomplished after he was president. The opportunity to be available to the thousands of visitors who came to pay their respects was a very meaningful honor in my service as a visitor guide.”
— Visitor Guide Suzanne

More Than a Building

Honor of a Lifetime

“It was the honor of a lifetime to host the livestream of the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies, which was viewed by 75 million people across multiple platforms, including YouTube and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) website. There was no script; we drew from our own background knowledge and whatever research we managed to conduct in the 72 hours between being asked to participate and going live. It was the first ever livestream of the ceremonies and had double the viewership of the national television news broadcast. In addition, there were 5.2 million individual impressions on Twitter about the event, including many statements of appreciation for our unique coverage.”
— Former Visitor Guide Janet

In Service to Those Who Served the Nation

“I gave a tour to Honor Flight veterans from Oklahoma. These veterans had served in Korea and Vietnam, and this was their chance to see their respective memorials in D.C., as well as the U.S. Capitol. Every group I take around the building is special, but this was my first time taking an Honor Flight. One of the people in charge of the group, called a Guardian, said, 'I’ve done this tour a few times with groups, but this was the best.' This was the ultimate highlight of my time at the Capitol: showing them around, but more importantly, listening to them and their stories.”
— Visitor Guide Lindsey

A Childhood Dream Come True

“At the end of each day after the last tours have started, we set aside time for last-minute visitors to see the Rotunda and take pictures in the heart of the Capitol. One day in 2019, I was assigned as the person to take visitors up for this final experience of the day. The group was sparse that day, consisting of just one couple from Germany: a professor of American history and his wife. When we arrived in the Rotunda, the wife bridged our language gap and shared that when she was 8 years old, her parents gifted her a jigsaw puzzle featuring the U.S. Capitol and it was her lifelong dream to visit. It's one of the stories that still sticks with me many years later.”
— Visitor Guide Scott

Keepers of the Flame

Being the Storytellers

“This country was only 100 years old—still in its infancy—when the first guides started to tell the story. There’s been a guide service ever since. Who’s going to be the keeper of the flame? Who’s going to be the keeper of the history of this country? I hope we're here for another 150 years, because it's so important to have that person that knows the story. It's like a grandmother at the dinner table who's told the story for the hundredth time. But you listen, and maybe you're going to be the next grandmother who passes the story down. You have to be that storyteller, and we happen to be the ones on the world stage.”
— Visitor Guide Maryellen

Responsibility of Representation

“As a U.S. Capitol Visitor Guide, I enjoy welcoming visitors from all over the country and the world on my tours. I take pride in making connections with so many people while communicating the history and significance of the Capitol. One private tour that I had the pleasure of providing was for the Lady Usher of the Black Rod, House of Lords. She was kind and very pleasant to speak with about the history of Congress and the U.K. Parliament as we walked around. Thinking back to that tour always reminds me of the immense role that many of us have in representing the Capitol, Congress, and the nation. Each day I am proud to carry that responsibility.”
— Visitor Guide Jacob

Connecting a Global Audience

“I have given thousands of tours of the Capitol. It’s hard to remember every single one, but I won’t soon forget the tour I gave that included visitors from six continents, and one visitor had traveled to Antarctica, so we called it the “‘Round the World Tour.” The Capitol is such a unique place that brings people together from every corner of the world, even if just for 40 minutes during their tour. Along the tour route, I was able to weave in stories and historic figures from each continent—even Antarctica—and tie them to the U.S. Capitol. Everyone has a connection to the Capitol, even if they don’t know it when they walk in the door.”
— Visitor Guide Alyssa

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