United States Capitol Visitor Center

The United States Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) is a large underground addition to the United States Capitol complex which serves as a gathering point for up to 4,000 tourists and an expansion space for the U.S. Congress. Opened in 2008, it is located on 1st Street East below the landscaped tree-shaded grounds of the East Front of the Capitol and included the development of the surface plaza (which had previously served as a parking lot since the mid-1920s). Additional, transparent skylights also punctuate the surface plaza to allow light into the center. The complex contains 580,000 square feet (54,000 m2) of space below ground on three levels. The overall project's budget was $621 million.

The CVC has additional space for use by the Congress, including multiple meeting and conference rooms. On the south / House side, there is a large room which is most likely to be used by a committee. A Congressional Auditorium, a 450-seat theater, is also available for use by members of Congress or for either House of Congress should it be needed.

The CVC officially opened on December 2, 2008. This date was selected to coincide with the 145th anniversary of placing Thomas Crawford's sculpted iconic Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol dome and building in 1863, signifying the completion of construction of its new second dome.