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The Capitol at Night: Scandals, Murder, Politics Adults Only Tour

31 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 31 reviews collected by Cool DC and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
|
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards. Washington DC, USA
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from $49 per person

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The Capitol at Night: Scandals, Murder, Politics Adults Only Tour Image 1
The Capitol at Night: Scandals, Murder, Politics Adults Only Tour Image 2
The Capitol at Night: Scandals, Murder, Politics Adults Only Tour Image 3
Duels, Murders, Sex, Drugs and Politics
The Capitol at Night: Scandals, Murder, Politics Adults Only Tour Image 5
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 25 (0) days in advance.
1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

Step into the dramatic side of Capitol Hill on a walking tour filled with political intrigue, scandal, and shocking moments from American history. From secret affairs and courtroom dramas to duels of honor and deadly rivalries, discover the stories Congress would rather forget. Along the way you’ll hear about spies in the Civil War, lawmakers attacked on the Senate floor, a journalist’s murder on the Capitol steps, and even a scandalous love story that shook Washington society. This tour reveals that behind the marble monuments and grand institutions of Capitol Hill lies a history packed with ambition, betrayal, and controversy. Join us to explore the scandals, secrets, and sensational stories that unfolded just steps from the U.S. Capitol.

What's Included

  • Adult Only Tour
  • Nightime views of US Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, National Mall and more...
  • Professional Local Tour Guide & Gossip Peddler
  • Gratuities
See 1 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

70 C Street Southeast
Washington, DC 20003, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

100 Maryland Avenue Southwest
Washington, DC 20001, USA

The tour ends on the West side of the US Capitol, near the US Botanic Garden - a good place for taxi pick up or an easy walk to Federal Center SW Metro Station.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Capitol Hill

After dark, Capitol Hill tells a very different story. On this adults-only evening walking tour, your guide takes you through the dramatic, outrageous, and often shocking history that unfolded in the shadow of Congress, from deadly duels and scandalous affairs to smuggling schemes and backdoor political deals. With the iconic dome glowing overhead and stops past the Supreme Court and Library of Congress, this is Washington at its most gloriously unfiltered.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress has burned more than once, and Congress managed to make it worse each time. After the British destroyed the original collection in 1814, a chimney fire in 1851 took out another 35,000 of the 55,000 volumes before legislators finally agreed to build a separate, fireproof building in 1864. The stunning Jefferson Building you see tonight is the result of Congress finally, reluctantly, deciding that the nation's books were worth protecting.We do not enter any buildings on this tour.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Senate and House Office Buildings

In 1884, Kentucky Congressman William Campbell Preston Breckinridge met seventeen-year-old Madeline Pollard on a train to Lexington and began a relationship that would last nearly a decade. When he married someone else instead of her after his wife died, Pollard sued him for breach of promise in a trial that became a national sensation, arguing not just for damages but for the principle that men and women should be held to the same standard when it came to matters of the heart. The jury agreed, she was awarded $15,000, and Breckinridge lost his seat in Congress shortly after.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Supreme Court

Before this block held two of America's most iconic institutions, it was the site of a Civil War prison that held some of the Confederacy's most notorious figures. Rose Greenhow, a widowed Washington socialite turned Confederate spymaster, was imprisoned here after running a spy network out of her 16th Street home and passing intelligence that helped the South win the first Battle of Bull Run. Also held here was Henry Wirz, the commander of the Andersonville prison camp, who was executed on these grounds in 1865 after being convicted of war crimes for the deaths of thousands of Union prisoners.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

U.S. Capitol

The building at the center of it all has witnessed more than two centuries of drama within its own walls, and this tour barely scratches the surface. Tonight you will hear about senators beaten on the floor, vice presidents who died in the building's basement bathtubs, congressmen who collapsed mid-speech and mid-vote, a nationalist attack that sent thirty rounds raining down from the gallery onto the House floor, and the ghost of a black cat that generations of night watchmen swear still prowls the corridors before moments of national crisis.We do not enter any buildings on this tour.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

James A. Garfield Monument

The man immortalized in bronze above you was shot not far from where you are standing, and the story of how he actually died is not quite what most people expect. Tonight you will hear about the assassin, the motive, and the medical decisions that may have done more damage than the bullet itself.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Ulysses S. Grant Memorial

The manicured grounds stretching out before you have been the setting for two of the tour's most unexpected stories, separated by nearly two centuries but equally difficult to believe actually happened. One involves a public execution that went spectacularly wrong before it even began, and the other involves a congressman's wife, a late-night session, and these very steps.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Show 6 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The Capitol at Night: Scandals, Murder, Politics Adults Only Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-41376P21

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Reviews

5.00
31 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 31 traveler reviews collected by Cool DC and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
31
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 25 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool DC customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The Capitol at Night: Scandals, Murder, Politics Adults Only Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Adult Only Tour.
  • Nightime views of US Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, National Mall and more.
  • Professional Local Tour Guide & Gossip Peddler.
The following is NOT included:
  • Gratuities.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:

This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 14..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the The Capitol at Night: Scandals, Murder, Politics Adults Only Tour is as follows:

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for The Capitol at Night: Scandals, Murder, Politics Adults Only Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool DC. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • Adult Only Tour
  • Nightime views of US Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, National Mall and more...
  • Professional Local Tour Guide & Gossip Peddler
  • Gratuities

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

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