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{{short description|Underground visitor center in Washington D.C.}}
{{short description|Underground visitor center in Washington D.C.}}
<!--
{{Organization
 
|OrganizationName= United States Capitol Visitor Center
Please be careful to spell the word
|OrganizationType= Executive Departments (Sub-organization)
=======CAPITOL=======
|Mission= To provide a welcoming and educational environment for visitors to learn about the history and significance of the United States Capitol, enhancing public understanding of the legislative process and the role of Congress in American democracy.
correctly, since there is little reason
|OrganizationExecutive= CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
to use the word capital in this article.
|Employees=  
 
|Budget=
-->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<ref name=CVCFAQs>{{cite web |title=Capitol Visitor Center Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Architect of the Capitol |url=http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/faqs/index.cfm#CP |access-date=2008-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924191906/http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/faqs/index.cfm#CP |archive-date=2008-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and an expansion space for the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]].<ref name="test">[http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2009/1/2009_1_10_dept.shtml Philip Kopper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102181508/http://americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2009/1/2009_1_10_dept.shtml |date=2010-01-02 }} "A Capitol Attraction," ''American Heritage'', Spring 2009.</ref> It is located below the landscaped tree-shaded grounds of the East Front of the Capitol and its plaza (a former unsightly parking lot since the mid-[[1920s]]), topped by a thick plastic / glass skylight on the surface, between the Capitol building and 1st Street East, towards the east. The complex contains {{convert|580000|sqft|m2}} of space below ground on three levels.<ref name=ProjectInfo>{{cite web |title=Capitol Visitor Center: Project Information |publisher=Capitol Visitor Center, Architect of the Capitol |url=http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/index.cfm |access-date=2008-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101021342/http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/index.cfm |archive-date=2008-11-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The overall project's budget was $621 million dollars.<ref name=FactSheet>{{cite web |title=Capitol Visitor Center Fact Sheet |date=Spring 2008 |publisher=Capitol Visitor Center, Architect of the Capitol |url=http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/upload/CVC%20Fact%20Sheet%20Spring%202008_1.pdf |access-date=2008-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031050211/http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/upload/CVC%20Fact%20Sheet%20Spring%202008_1.pdf |archive-date=2008-10-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|Website=https://www.visitthecapitol.gov
|Services= Guided tours; Educational programs; Exhibits; Orientation films; Visitor assistance
|ParentOrganization= United States Capitol Police and Architect of the Capitol
|CreationLegislation= Capitol Visitor Center Act of 1998
|Regulations=
|HeadquartersLocation= 38.889779, -77.008872
|HeadquartersAddress= First Street, SE between E. Capitol and Independence Ave., Washington, DC 20004
}}
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<ref name=CVCFAQs>{{cite web |title=Capitol Visitor Center Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Architect of the Capitol |url=http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/faqs/index.cfm#CP |access-date=2008-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924191906/http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/faqs/index.cfm#CP |archive-date=2008-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and an expansion space for the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]].<ref name="test">[http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2009/1/2009_1_10_dept.shtml Philip Kopper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102181508/http://americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2009/1/2009_1_10_dept.shtml |date=2010-01-02 }} "A Capitol Attraction," ''American Heritage'', Spring 2009.</ref> It is located below the landscaped tree-shaded grounds of the East Front of the Capitol and its plaza (a former unsightly parking lot since the mid-[[1920s]]), topped by a thick plastic / glass skylight on the surface, between the Capitol building and 1st Street East, towards the east. The complex contains {{convert|580000|sqft|m2}} of space below ground on three levels.<ref name=ProjectInfo>{{cite web |title=Capitol Visitor Center: Project Information |publisher=Capitol Visitor Center, Architect of the Capitol |url=http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/index.cfm |access-date=2008-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101021342/http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/index.cfm |archive-date=2008-11-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The overall project's budget was $621 million dollars.<ref name=FactSheet>{{cite web |title=Capitol Visitor Center Fact Sheet |date=Spring 2008 |publisher=Capitol Visitor Center, Architect of the Capitol |url=http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/upload/CVC%20Fact%20Sheet%20Spring%202008_1.pdf |access-date=2008-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031050211/http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/upload/CVC%20Fact%20Sheet%20Spring%202008_1.pdf |archive-date=2008-10-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


The CVC has additional space for use by the Congress, including multiple new meeting and conference rooms. On the south / House side, there is a large room which will most likely be used by a [[United States Congressional committee|committee]]. The new Congressional Auditorium, a 450-seat theater, is available for use by members of Congress or for either House of Congress should their respective chamber be temporarily unavailable.<ref name = WPCVCDelays>{{cite news |last=Hsu |first=Spencer S. |author2=Christopher Lee  |title=Delays for Capitol Visitor Center |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2004-11-29 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18422-2004Nov28.html |pages=A17 |access-date=2008-11-10}}</ref>
The CVC has additional space for use by the Congress, including multiple new meeting and conference rooms. On the south / House side, there is a large room which will most likely be used by a [[United States Congressional committee|committee]]. The new Congressional Auditorium, a 450-seat theater, is available for use by members of Congress or for either House of Congress should their respective chamber be temporarily unavailable.<ref name = WPCVCDelays>{{cite news |last=Hsu |first=Spencer S. |author2=Christopher Lee  |title=Delays for Capitol Visitor Center |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2004-11-29 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18422-2004Nov28.html |pages=A17 |access-date=2008-11-10}}</ref>