AP: New visitor center greets 1 millionth guest

New visitor center greets 1 millionth guest

16 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Capitol Visitor Center, criticized when it opened last December for costing more than double the original estimates, on Thursday greeted its 1 millionth guest, doubling the past pace of visits to the Capitol.

Terrie S. Rouse, CEO for Visitor Services at the center, said the 1 million visitors who have passed through the three-story underground facility since it opened on Dec. 2 compares to 467,800 who toured the Capitol during the same five-month period a year ago.

The center, costing more than $600 million and taking more than eight years to build after the 2000 groundbreaking, is now the first stop for tourists, offering exhibits, artifacts, movies, gift shops and restaurants before people begin tours of the connected Capitol building.

Previously, visitors had to wait outside in lines for tours to the Capitol, with limited access to food, shelter and restrooms.

Rouse said the peak day was April 20, when 19,500 visited the Capitol. She said that in past years that could have resulted in a four-hour wait outside, while currently visitors wait an average six to 10 minutes to enter the Visitor Center.

"The critics who complained about the size and cost of the CVC have been proven wrong," said Rep. John Mica of Florida, top Republican on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. With the 1 millionth visitor, he said, "this facility has alrady demonstrated its worth."

The scope and cost of the project expanded after the Sept. 11 attacks as lawmakers demanded that the center be used to improve the security of the Capitol.
On the Net:

* Capitol Visitor Center: http://www.visitthecapitol.gov