Jimmy Carter accepts the presidential nomination of his party at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 14, 1980. (Photo credit: Jimmy Carter Library)
WASHINGTON — Former President Jimmy Carter will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Carter, who died Dec. 29 at 100 in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, lived the longest of any U.S. president in history. The tradition of lying in state allows for people to pay their respects to a late government official or military officer through a public viewing at the Capitol.
Visitors can get in a line to the Capitol Visitor Center starting at 6 p.m. on Second and East Capitol streets, U.S. Capitol Police said in a news release.
The rotunda will be open until midnight Tuesday and reopen Wednesday at 7 a.m., according to USCP. Public viewing will end Thursday at 7 a.m.
USCP advised visitors to prepare for cold weather conditions while waiting in a line that will flow out of the Capitol Visitor Center.
Visitors are not allowed to bring “flowers, sealed envelopes or other offerings” and must turn off cell phones and electronic devices, USCP said.
Visitors are also prohibited from taking photos and videos when in the rotunda and encouraged to use public transportation as there will be no public parking on the Capitol grounds.