Old Town Trolley Tour Map

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Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES - AUGUST 28, 1963: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressing crowd of demonstrators outside the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

The civil rights movement in the United States during the late 1950s and 1960s was the political, legal, and social struggle to gain full citizenship rights for black Americans and to achieve racial equality. Individuals and civil rights organizations challenged segregation and discrimination using a variety of activities, including protest marches, boycotts, and refusal to abide by segregation laws.

On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 demonstrators descended upon the nation’s capital to participate in the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” Not only was it the largest demonstration for human rights in United States history, but it also occasioned a rare display of unity among the various civil rights organizations. The event began with a rally at the Washington Monument featuring several celebrities and musicians. Participants then marched the mile-long National Mall to the Memorial. The three-hour long program at the Lincoln Memorial included speeches from prominent civil rights and religious leaders. The day ended with a meeting between the march leaders and President John F. Kennedy at the White House.

The idea for the 1963 March on Washington was envisioned by A. Philip Randolph, a long-time civil rights activist dedicated to improving the economic condition of black Americans. When Randolph first proposed the march in late 1962, he received little response from other civil rights leaders. He knew that cooperation would be difficult because each had his own agenda for the civil rights movement, and the leaders competed for funding and press coverage. Success of the March on Washington would depend on the involvement of the so-called “Big Six”—Randolph and the heads of the five major civil rights organizations: Roy Wilkins of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Whitney Young, Jr., of the National Urban League; Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); James Farmer of the Conference of Racial Equality (CORE); and John Lewis of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

The details and organization of the march were handled by Bayard Rustin, Randolph’s trusted associate. Rustin was a veteran activist with extensive experience in putting together mass protest. With only two months to plan, Rustin established his headquarters in Harlem, NY, with a smaller office in Washington. He and his core staff of 200 volunteers quickly put together the largest peaceful demonstration in U.S. history. (source: Official Program)

Getting to the Capitol

Walking to the Capitol

The United States Capitol is bordered by Constitution Avenue to the North, Independence Avenue to the South, and First Streets, to the East and West. It is located at the far eastern end of the National Mall beyond the Capitol Reflecting Pool.
The Capitol grounds are open to visitors.

Visitor Services Shuttle to Capitol Visitor Center Entrance



Visitor Services Shuttle to Capitol Visitor Center Entrance

For your convenience, the Capitol Visitor Center Office of Visitor Services provides an on-demand shuttle service for those with mobility issues or in manual wheelchairs. The shuttles run from the southwest corner of Capitol Square at Independence Ave. and First St. SW to the Capitol Visitor Center entrance at the center of the Capitol’s East Plaza. Please inquire about this service from the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services at 202-224-4048, from any Visitor Services personnel in a red shirt or vest, or at either of the Visitor Services kiosks located at the southwest corner of Capitol Square or on the east side of the Capitol near the corner of First St. NE/SE and East Capitol Street. Please provide as much advance notice as possible to help facilitate your request.

If you are traveling with a large group requesting mobility assistance, we strongly recommend that you contact the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services at 202-224-4048 prior to your visit. Please provide as much advance notice as possible to help facilitate your request.

Getting to the Capitol by Car

Please keep in mind that there is very little public parking available near the Capitol. 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.

Getting to the Capitol by Subway


There are three subway stops found within walking distance of the Capitol:

* Union Station – Located at First Street, NW, and Massachusetts Avenue.
* 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.

Additional information on riding the subway, which is called the Metro, is available at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority homepage here.


Tour Bus Route and Commercial Bus Restrictions on U.S. Capitol Grounds


The following security measures will be implemented as part of continued efforts by the U.S. Capitol Police to enhance security within the Capitol complex. These measures are precautionary, and are not predicated on any known threats.

Click here to view the tour bus route (Updated 11/07)