WASHINGTON — James McKinen reached out to his congressman “some time ago” about visiting the U.S. Capitol — the seat of American democracy that has been closed to the public for just under two years after COVID-19 caused upheaval in nearly every aspect of daily life and after a violent mob breached the complex on Jan. 6, 2021.
When the emergency room doctor, who lives in Lawrenceville, received word from the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, that the complex would reopen, he took the opportunity to join one of the first scheduled tours of the Capitol’s limited reopening.
“We just got lucky,” said Dr. McKinen, 32, who brought his parents along Friday. “We're fortunate to get the tour and to take a look inside to see a building we've seen a lot of pictures, but have certainly never been inside.”
The sprawling complex anchored by the unmistakable white dome, topped by the Statue of Freedom, and where historic works of art and symbols of Western democracy are preserved, is reopening “in a responsible and balanced two-phased manner based on multiple factors including security and staffing,” according to the House Sergeant at Arms.
Like mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions, debate over the public’s renewed access to the Capitol became tinged with politics as lawmakers awaited the final determination from law enforcement and the House Attending Physician, Congress’s top doctor.
Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, co-led letters in January and February to the Attending Physician and the Sergeant at Arms for both chambers arguing that just as sports and live entertain resumed across the country, “now is the time to reopen the People’s House.” About 20% of House Republicans co-signed the letter. House Democratic leadership cited security and pandemic concerns at the time.
After an order issued last week from the top physician and law enforcement, doors opened Monday for reservation-only tours for groups of up to 15 led either by a lawmaker or their staff, as well as limited school group visits.
Both Mr. Doyle and Mr. Kelly welcomed their offices’ first organized tours Friday.
“My staff and I are incredibly excited to welcome constituents back to Washington. I’m proud to have led the effort to reopen the People’s House back to the American people,” Mr. Kelly said in an emailed statement Thursday. “I would like to see the House fully reopened now rather than the phased approach that officials have taken. But, we are ready to see everyone again and cannot wait to show them around their Capitol and work with them here in Washington once again.”
A group of high school U.S. Air Force ROTC students from Mr. Kelly’s district, who were in the nation’s capital for the presentation of colors at a nearby military event, added the Capitol tour to their itinerary of visiting the National Air and Space Museum and snapping photos of the White House.
“The history here at Washington, D.C., is incredible. It's my second time here, but I've never had the opportunity to be inside the Capitol,” said Elliot Buona, 15, a sophomore at Seneca High School in Erie and a cadet captain in the ROTC program. “It's hard to be in here and think ‘oh, wow, you know this is where history's been made.’”
The two tours, led by staff of the lawmakers, walked through the underground tunnels from the Longworth House Office Building to the Capitol Visitor Center, the newest addition to the complex that is an underground gathering place for tourists, complete with a theater and glass ceiling framing a view of the Capitol dome.
After viewing a short film about the Capitol’s history — that declared “These walls have been tested. They do not crack.” — the visitors followed their guides through the crypt, into the former U.S. Supreme Court chamber and under the massive dome, where historic statues and American paintings encircled them.
Groups of tourists passed each other, most holding up their cell phones to snap photos and listening closely to their guides as other voices carried in the large spaces.
(Your Post-Gazette correspondent can attest that this is the noisiest and most active she’s seen the Capitol since her arrival in November.)
“It’s exciting to be one of the first tours back here,” said 17-year-old Seneca senior Alex Libra, a cadet lieutenant colonel with the ROTC program and one of the 100 nationwide recipients to receive the J-100 Air Force scholarship.
While conditions may change depending on the status of COVID-19, the complex is expected to open to a set number of visitors at the end of May.
“We reopened in a phased manner with members, staff, and visitor protection being considered with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Another factor that impacted the decision of the phased reopening is the number of United States Capitol Police officer retirements and resignations. ... We have to ensure that we open in a responsible and safe manner,” according to the statement from the House Sergeant at Arms.
The U.S. Capitol Police did not respond for comment.
Other U.S. lawmakers from Pennsylvania have applauded the reopening of the complex; Congressman John Joyce, R-Blair, said it’s “past time for our nation’s Capitol to welcome visitors again.”
Spokesman Sam Fisher for Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. said the Capitol’s history is “meant to be shared with the public” and that the senator has been helping constituents secure tours.
Mr. Doyle called the Capitol “the symbolic heart of our government.”
“It’s important that the American people have access to it, so I’m pleased that tours of the Capitol have resumed. I look forward to the time when Capitol tours can resume at full capacity,” he said in a statement.
The mask mandate was lifted in the U.S. House of Representatives early last month.
The Capitol complex closed to the public on March 12, 2020. Prior to COVID-19, the Capitol complex received between 3 million and 5 million visitors each year, according to the Architect of the Capitol.
Ashley Murray: amurray@post-gazette.com
First Published: April 2, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
