Capitol Visitor Center to Open Fall 2008
It's Washington's own version of The Big Dig, but it's much more secluded and (hopefully) isn't filling up with water. It's a multi-million dollar boondoggle that provides plenty of fodder for Congresscritters who wish to howl about federal spending. It's the Capitol Visitor Center, which has been under construction since 2001, and has increased in cost from $265 million at that time to $573 million today—which isn't too bad for a Federal project, right?
The Washington Times reports that Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Legislative Affairs ranking member Wayne Allard (R-CO) says the project will finally be completed by fall of 2008. The 580,000 square foot visitor center will be the gathering point for visitors to the Capitol complex, shifting the burden from the House and Senate office buildings. With up to 1,500 people an hour pouring into the complex, the Hill's hallways sometimes resemble crowded stockyards during peak tourist months. The Center will also be a significant improvement to the security of the complex, which has, of course, been tightened significantly since September 11, 2001.
Photo showing current state of construction from the Architect of the Capitol
According to the latest report from the Architect of the Capitol, much of the stonework in the center has been completed, and it sounds as if the addition's "skeleton" is completed. It looks as if the new hearing rooms for both the Senate and the House are nearly done as well. Importantly, construction teams have started reconstructing the East Plaza of the Capitol, a Frederick Law Olmsted masterpiece that—at least for this oft-visitor to the Hill—has been sorely missed as respite from the heat on trips from the Senate to the House.
The plaster version of the Statue of Freedom currently in the Russell Senate Office Building will be moved to the visitor center, and a new 550-seat cafeteria will relieve the burden on the office building eateries (we'll make sure DCist Food gets a preview of what kind of eats the Peoples' branch of government plans to offer). Assuming it actually ever opens, will you be first in line to see the new welcoming center? Will you protest the opening over D.C. Voting rights? Or, will you just be happy that you don't have to trudge all the way around the Capitol to get to meetings? Hit the comment box to let us know.