Supreme Court, Washington D.C.
The Supreme Court of the United States is located just east of the United States Capitol, and its oversight falls under the Architect of the Capitol. It received the distinction of being designated a National Historic Landmark on May 4, 1987.
The Supreme Court Building was designed by architect Cass Gilbert and stands four stories tall (92 feet) above ground. Construction began on October 13, 1932, and was completed in 1935, staying within the budget of $9.74 million authorized by Congress, with a total cost of $94,000. It was designed to reflect the importance and dignity of the Court and the Judiciary as an equal and independent branch of the U.S. government, serving as a symbol of the national ideal of justice at the highest level.
The public-facing fa莽ade of the Supreme Court Building is constructed from marble quarried in Vermont, while the courtyards facing the interior are made of Georgian marble. Most of the interior spaces are adorned with Alabama marble, except for the Courtroom itself, which is decorated with Spanish ivory vein marble. For the 24 columns in the Courtroom, architect Gilbert specifically chose ivory buff and golden marble from the Montarrenti quarries near Siena, Italy.
The west fa莽ade of the building, which faces the Capitol and is essentially the "front" of the court, features the motto "Equal Justice Under Law," while the east fa莽ade carries the motto "Justice, the Guardian of Liberty."
The Supreme Court Building was designed by architect Cass Gilbert and stands four stories tall (92 feet) above ground. Construction began on October 13, 1932, and was completed in 1935, staying within the budget of $9.74 million authorized by Congress, with a total cost of $94,000. It was designed to reflect the importance and dignity of the Court and the Judiciary as an equal and independent branch of the U.S. government, serving as a symbol of the national ideal of justice at the highest level.
The public-facing fa莽ade of the Supreme Court Building is constructed from marble quarried in Vermont, while the courtyards facing the interior are made of Georgian marble. Most of the interior spaces are adorned with Alabama marble, except for the Courtroom itself, which is decorated with Spanish ivory vein marble. For the 24 columns in the Courtroom, architect Gilbert specifically chose ivory buff and golden marble from the Montarrenti quarries near Siena, Italy.
The west fa莽ade of the building, which faces the Capitol and is essentially the "front" of the court, features the motto "Equal Justice Under Law," while the east fa莽ade carries the motto "Justice, the Guardian of Liberty."
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Supreme Court on Map
Sight Name: Supreme Court
Sight Location: Washington D.C., USA (See walking tours in Washington D.C.)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Washington D.C., USA (See walking tours in Washington D.C.)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Washington D.C., USA
Create Your Own Walk in Washington D.C.
Creating your own self-guided walk in Washington D.C. is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Federal Buildings Walking Tour
The capital of the United States is home to several notable federal buildings that hold significant historical, architectural, and governmental value.
Among the stately 鈥渆mblems of authority鈥� in Washington D.C. perhaps the most prominent is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States 鈥� The White House. This resplendent mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
Among the stately 鈥渆mblems of authority鈥� in Washington D.C. perhaps the most prominent is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States 鈥� The White House. This resplendent mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
Georgetown Walking Tour
Georgetown is a historic neighborhood situated in the northwest quadrant of Washington, DC. Despite its proximity to downtown, this former port area has preserved much of its distinct character. In Georgetown, "old-world charm meets modern allure," they say. Those poetically inclined tend to compare it to "a tapestry of cobblestone dreams and timeless grace."
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Georgetown University Walking Tour
Georgetown University, established in 1789, is America's oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution. Spanning four campuses in Washington, DC, its main undergraduate campus in Georgetown features fifty-four buildings across 104 acres.
With its Gothic and Georgian architecture, serene green spaces, and Jesuit traditions, the university promotes academic excellence and global engagement. For... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
With its Gothic and Georgian architecture, serene green spaces, and Jesuit traditions, the university promotes academic excellence and global engagement. For... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Washington D.C. Introduction Walking Tour
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia or simply The District, is the capital of the United States and, in many senses, America鈥檚 front yard. After the American Revolution, the need for the newly independent nation's federal government to have authority over a capital city and not rely on any state for its maintenance and safety, came in the wake of the Pennsylvania Mutiny of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
Arlington National Cemetery Tour
"The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example," a distinguished politician of the 19th century said once.
The historic military necropolis 鈥� the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia 鈥� is the final resting place for many of America's heroes, whose willingness to sacrifice for their country has earned them the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
The historic military necropolis 鈥� the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia 鈥� is the final resting place for many of America's heroes, whose willingness to sacrifice for their country has earned them the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
DC Monuments and Memorials Walking Tour
"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years," goes the famous quote by Abraham Lincoln.
Indeed, those remembered in Washington, D.C. 鈥� the renowned statesmen, politicians, fallen soldiers, and other distinguished persons 鈥� had their years filled with life to the brim. What they left behind is a great legacy manifested in historic... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Indeed, those remembered in Washington, D.C. 鈥� the renowned statesmen, politicians, fallen soldiers, and other distinguished persons 鈥� had their years filled with life to the brim. What they left behind is a great legacy manifested in historic... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Traveler's Guide to Washington DC: 16 Souvenirs to Bring Home
The capital of the United States is an attraction in its own right and many things that have originated here or in the nearby areas are of great cultural and historic significance. To decide which of them can make for an ideal souvenir for you to bring home, check out the proposed list of local...
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