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On September 10, 1813, the United States won a major naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, which is depicted in a painting near the Senate Chamber, but this isn’t the only connection between the Capitol and the War of 1812. Learn more about how the War of 1812 affected Congress, the Capitol and Washington, D.C.

In 1904, the U.S. Naval Academy gifted a bust of Captain John Paul Jones to the Senate. Learn about the life and career of one of the most influential naval pioneers and how the bust ended up in the Capitol.

When Congress restored the Old Supreme Court Chamber and Old Senate Chamber to their 1850s appearance, they included some objects that are frequently asked about on Capitol tours. We will discuss how those items, like the quills and inkstands, were used at the time and how those traditions are carried on today by the Senate and the Supreme Court.

Visit the Education Cart by the Statue of Freedom and find out what’s happening in the House and Senate Chambers today.

The 1st Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. Learn about the history of the U.S. Capitol Press Galleries.

Explore the beautifully decorated corridors of the Senate wing of the Capitol in this intimate look at the work of Italian-born artist Constantino Brumidi. Tours begin at the benches by the Slave Labor Commemorative Marker.