New Capitol Hill Visitor Center Welcomes Democracy Nuts

Damon Tabor

Think of it as a basement rumpus room for democracy nuts. The new Capitol Visitor Center—a 580,000-square-foot complex buried beneath the east side of Capitol Hill—opens its doors on December 2 to as many as 15,000 nation-lovin' pilgrims a day. The first major upgrade to the Capitol since the Civil War, the CVC is equipped with state-of-the-art theaters, interactive exhibits, and a cafeteria that seats 550 people. Of course, it's three years overdue, $356 million over budget, and—in the words of Florida congressmember Debbie Wasserman-Schultz—the biggest boondoggle ever. But, please, let's not stay mired in the past. This is the change that patriotic tourists deserve.