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Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC

Photo: Joe Ravi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFree

Supreme Court of the United States

1 First St NE · Washington, DC

Why you should go…

Home of the Court since 1935, Cass Gilbert's neoclassical building is open to visitors at no charge. You can walk the public areas on your own, see Court-related exhibitions and sit in on a Courtroom Lecture, and Court sessions are open to the public. Look for the bronze entrance doors, 17 feet high, and the Equal Justice Under Law pediment over the west facade. Court business can affect access, so check the Court's daily calendar before you go.

  • #government building
  • #courthouse
  • #architecture
  • #self-guided tour

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Supreme Court of the United States, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Folger Shakespeare Library

    Free

    See Shakespeare First Folios, manuscripts and costumes in the exhibition halls, then visit the gardens and Elizabethan Theatre.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Hidden-in-plain-sight

    Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building

    Free

    The world's largest library, and arguably DC's most beautiful interior, the Great Hall, the Main Reading Room, and a Gutenberg Bible.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    U.S. Capitol & Capitol Visitor Center

    Free

    Free guided tours under the Rotunda's frescoed dome, the heart of American democracy, up close.

    Steps awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Old Town Trolley Tours of Washington DC

    $50+

    Hop on, hop off at stops across the city while conductors dish DC history, the easiest first-day overview in town.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Union Station

    Free

    Walk through a 1907 Beaux-Arts rail terminal whose Main Hall ceiling rises 96 feet, then browse its shops and restaurants.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Washington Monument

    Free

    Ride 500 feet up the world's tallest stone obelisk for the only aerial panorama of the White House, Capitol, and Mall.

    1.7 mi awayMore like this