General Public

The general public is able to access the Capitol Building through:

• South Carriage Tunnel Entrance: Monday – Friday from 7 am – 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8 am – 4 pm (closed on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and on the authority of the Office of Administration Commissioner). This entrance faces High Street and easily accessible.
• East Basement Door: When the General Assembly is in Session after 5 pm in the Capitol, the general public may enter and be screened through the East Basement Door.
• ADA Access Point: The South Carriage Tunnel Entrance is ADA accessible during normal business hours. When the General Assembly is in Session after 5 pm, the East Basement Door is ADA accessible. Capitol Access Guide from Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability and Missouri Assistive Technology Council

Missouri Capitol Police utilize walk-through security detection systems and X-ray conveyors for screening. These public entrances provided above are also used by special guests, media, lobbyists, and contract employees without electronic proximity cards and are subject to screening.

State Employees

Employees who work in the Capitol Building and those with regular business in the Capitol may be issued electronic key card credentials (proximity cards). They may enter secure entrances without being subject to search at the following entrances:

• West Basement - located by the Capitol cafeteria, facing Broadway Street
• Carriage East and Carriage West First Floor Doors – located on the south side of the Capitol beside the South Carriage Tunnel Entrance facing High Street. 
• South Carriage Tunnel – proximity card readers are located on the X-ray machines. State employees entering at this checkpoint may use their proximity cards on this reader to verify current employment.

School Groups

School groups will enter through the South Carriage Tunnel Entrance. Only children who are not yet in high school and not carrying backpacks, satchels, etc., will be allowed to bypass searches. Teachers, school staff and chaperones are subject to search and screening.

Firearms

State and federal law enforcement officers, peace officers, probation and parole officers, wardens and superintendents of prisons or penitentiaries, members of the armed forces and National Guard, persons vested with judicial authority by the state or federal court must use the South Carriage Tunnel Entrance or the East Basement Door and credentials will be verified by a law enforcement officer. 

Those with a valid conceal and carry firearms permit must use the South Carriage Tunnel public entrance and be in possession both of their permit and valid photo identification. Conceal and carry permit holders are not allowed to carry concealed firearms on the chamber floor of either the House or Senate, in the House or Senate galleries, or any legislative meeting rooms. This policy is in accordance with Chapter 571 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.

Persons who do not meet the above qualifications may not enter the Capitol Building with a firearm. Persons in legal possession of a firearm but who do not meet the above qualifications will be asked to return the firearm to a secure location in their vehicle prior to entering the Capitol.

Deliveries

Delivery drivers who are not state employees are not permitted to drive into the Capitol basement. Delivery personnel will be required to unload outside the East Basement garage area. Personnel and items will be subject to search by a law enforcement officer. Deliveries will also be permitted at the South Carriage Tunnel entrance, subject to search.

Prohibited Items

Unless authorized, firearms and weapons of any kind, including any knife with a blade exceeding four inches and any type of explosive device, are prohibited. Anything illegal to possess under Missouri law may be seized and retained as evidence in a criminal prosecution. 

Unauthorized items are detailed in 1 CSR 35-1.050 Public Use of State Facilities.