The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court Pixabay Public Domain
Created to represent the federal level judicial branch of the United States government, the U.S. Supreme Court is both an icon of American legal justice and the beauty of freedom. The Supreme Court has decided the judicial fates of famous cases such as Marbury v. Madison, Dred Scott v. Sandford, and Brown v. Board of Education. The columned facade of the court, finished in 1935, is a commanding presence that has been the head of the country’s legal system since the institution’s establishment in 1790.
Though guided tours are not available, the Supreme Court is open for self-guided tours and educational programs are offered such as courtroom lectures, a 24-minute visitors’ film, and exhibitions which are changed periodically. Exhibits you may see include displays on Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female Justice, legal education in America, and more. Walk through the Supreme Court at your leisure and view the formidable John Marshall statue, the many busts and portraits of Justices lining the corridors as well as the two free-standing marble spiral staircases. Watch a court session in progress on a first come first serve basis to see the Justices and the judicial branch in action. To attend courtroom lectures and to watch a court session, check the schedules and arrive early to get a seat.
The Supreme Court is open to visitors Monday through Friday every week from 9-4:30 and is closed on major federal holidays.
