★★★★★ Rated Excellent on TripAdvisor | Small groups | Adults and mature teens | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Congress has always presented itself as the dignified seat of American democracy. The stories on this tour suggest otherwise.
Over two hours and one mile of walking around Capitol Hill, you will hear about the affairs, the beatings, the murders, the spies, the ghosts, and the spectacular personal disasters of the men and women who have shaped American government for more than two centuries. A senator beaten unconscious on the Senate floor. A Confederate spy who drowned in her own escape route. A congressman shot on the Capitol steps by the journalist who had exposed his affair. A Gilded Age scandal that became America’s first #MeToo moment. A ghost cat that appears before national tragedies.
This tour is more humor than horror but it covers adult topics including affairs, assassinations, and political corruption. We leave age decisions to you, but it is probably not best suited for young children.
Check Dates & Book Your Spot
Spots fill up fast. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so there’s no risk in reserving your spot now.
⏱ Duration: Approximately 2 hours
📍 Meets at: Outside Capitol South Metro Station. Tour ends near the National Museum of the American Indian. Look for your guide in DC by Foot attire.
🚇 Getting here: Metro Blue, Orange, or Silver Line — Capitol South Station. The meeting point is directly outside the station.
👟 Physical level: Easy — approximately 1 mile of flat walking. This is an exterior tour. We do not enter any buildings.
We don’t just show you the sites.
We tell you the stories.
Every stop on this tour has a story most visitors never hear. Our guides bring them to life.
America’s First #MeToo Moment
In 1894, a student sued Kentucky Congressman William Breckinridge for breach of promise after nearly a decade as his mistress. The trial was a national sensation. Her case was not just about one man. It was about how differently men and women were treated when it came to sexual impropriety. The jury agreed.
The Confederate Spy Who Drowned in Her Own Gold
Rose Greenhow was a widowed Washington socialite who ran a Confederate spy network from her home . She died in 1864, drowned when the gold she had sewn into her dress dragged her under after her escape rowboat capsized.
The Caning of Senator Sumner
Congressman Preston Brooks walked onto the Senate floor and beat Senator Charles Sumner unconscious with a metal-tipped cane. The incident helped push the country toward civil war.
The Journalist, the Congressman, and the Capitol Steps
Charles Kincaid was a journalist who had exposed Kentucky Congressman William Taulbee’s affair under the headline “Kentucky’s Silver-Tongued Taulbee Caught in Flagrante.” There was an attack on the east staircase of the House wing. The blood stain is still there.
Deaths on the House Floor
More members of Congress have died inside the Capitol Building than most people realize.
The Garfield Affair and Assassination
President James Garfield was assassinated nearby in 1881. His killer, Charles Guiteau, had convinced himself that by supporting Garfield’s election he was owed a position. When he did not get one; he took action into his own hands.
Why tour with a guide?
The official history of Capitol Hill is well documented. The unofficial history is considerably more interesting.
You could walk around the Capitol on your own and read the plaques. The plaques leave a lot out. Our guides know the stories behind the stories: the affairs, the cover-ups, the spectacular personal disasters, and the moments that the official record quietly skips over.
- Stories you won’t find on a standard tour. This is not the civics class version of Capitol Hill history. These are the stories that happened in the same buildings, on the same steps, just off the official record.
- More humor than horror. The tone is closer to a great dinner party story than a ghost tour. These events are shocking but they are also genuinely funny in the way that only real history can be.
- Historians who love this stuff. Our guides are not performing a script. They have researched these stories in depth and they enjoy telling them. The enthusiasm is real.
- Your questions get answered. See something that catches your eye? We stop and talk about it. No audio guide ever did that.
Everything before you book.
Meeting point
Outside Capitol South Metro Station. Look for your guide in DC by Foot attire directly outside the station exit.
End point
The tour ends near the National Museum of the American Indian on the southwest side of Capitol Hill.
Getting there
Metro Blue, Orange, or Silver Line to Capitol South Station. The meeting point is directly outside the station — no walking required to find your guide.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes — approximately 1 mile of flat walking
- Water bottle
- Camera — there are excellent views of the Capitol and Supreme Court throughout the tour
- Weather-appropriate clothing — tours run rain or shine
Buildings visited
This is an exterior walking tour. We do not enter any buildings including the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, or the Library of Congress. We view all sites from the street and surrounding grounds.
Accessibility
This tour follows flat, paved paths around the Capitol grounds and is generally accessible. Contact us in advance if you have specific accessibility needs and we will do our best to accommodate.
Age guidance
This tour covers adult topics including affairs, political corruption, assassinations, and executions. It is not overly graphic or scary — the tone is closer to humor than horror — but it is probably not suited for young children. We do not set an age limit. You know your family best.
What’s included
- Licensed professional historian and tour guide
- Capitol Hill restaurant and experience recommendations from your guide
- Stories researched from primary sources — not the version Congress approved
Ready to Walk With Us?
This tour fills up fast. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, no risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tour appropriate for teenagers?
For most teenagers, yes — particularly those with an interest in history, politics, or true crime. The content covers affairs, political scandal, assassination, and execution, but the tone is more humor than horror and nothing is gratuitously graphic. We do not set an age limit. You know your family best.
Is this the same as the regular Capitol Hill tour?
No — this is a completely separate tour with a different route, different stories, and a very different tone. Our regular Capitol Hill tour covers the history, architecture, and workings of the Capitol complex and includes tickets to the Library of Congress and the Capitol Building. This tour stays outside and focuses entirely on the scandals, crimes, and controversies that the official tour skips over. Many guests do both.
Do you enter any buildings?
No — this is an exterior walking tour. We view the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and other sites from the grounds and surrounding streets. We do not enter any federal buildings on this tour.
Is this tour scary?
No — this is not a ghost tour, though it does include a ghost story or two. The tone is closer to a fascinating and occasionally outrageous dinner party conversation than anything designed to frighten. The stories are shocking because they are true, not because they are theatrical.
What happens if it rains?
Tours run rain or shine. Bring an umbrella and weather-appropriate clothing. In the event of severe weather we will contact all guests by email and text with alternative options or a full refund.
How do I cancel or reschedule?
Reply to your confirmation email to cancel or reschedule. Full refunds are available up to 24 hours before the tour. We offer flexible rescheduling and can often accommodate you on another date with short notice. Guests who booked via a third-party platform must cancel through that platform.
Are there bathrooms on this tour?
No! All the buildings are closed at night and this is an exterior tour only.
