TOUR: U.S. Capitol Grounds

U.S. Capitol Grounds Tour Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted
Saturday, May 9, 2026 
12:45 PM - 3:00 PM
Registration Required | Tickets $25/person | No Refunds

Join us as we step into a living documentary of American landscape design where our guide, Steve Livengood—Chief Guide and Public Historian of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society and a board member of The Olmsted Network—guides us on a tour of the U.S. Capitol grounds.

Our Tour:
Originally a wooded river terrace, the U.S. Capitol Grounds now provide a park-like setting for the nation's Capitol Building, offering a picturesque counterpoint to the building's formal architecture. The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), who planned the expansion and landscaping of the area that was performed from 1874 to 1892. Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park, is considered the father of American landscape architecture. He was the dominant figure in the development of public parks in America, and many of his designs were influenced by his studies of European parks, gardens and estates. In describing his plan for the Capitol Grounds, Olmsted noted that "the ground is in design part of the U.S. Capitol, but in all respects subsidiary to the central structure." Therefore, he was careful not to group trees or other landscape features in any way that would distract the viewer from the U.S. Capitol Building. The use of sculpture and other ornamentation is kept to a minimum, while the trees, shrubs, and hardscape – while carefully planned – seem to flow simply and clearly out of the topography rather than calling attention to themselves.

When we conclude our walk, what first seemed like simple parkland reads as a carefully composed narrative, begun in the 19th century and still unfolding under our feet: Frederick Law Olmsted’s enduring vision of the U.S. Capitol Grounds as a place where the building, the landscape, and the public meet.

Meeting Point:
Please arrive by 12:45 p.m. at the Neptune Fountain located on First Street and East Capitol Street SE, in front of the Library of Congress. OLLI’s tour coordinator, Elena Vejarano, along with Steve Livengood, will greet participants at this location.

Getting There:
There are three Metro stops within walking distance of Capitol Hill:

• Capitol South – Located at First Street between C and D Streets, SE.
• Federal Center, SW – Located at the southwest corner of Third and D Streets, SW.
• Union Station – Located at First Street, NW, and Massachusetts Avenue.

The nearest public parking facility is at Union Station, to the north of the Capitol.
Metered street parking is found along the Mall to the west of the Capitol