The U.S. Capitol Rotunda holds a prestigious honor for those who have made significant contributions to the nation, with only 34 individuals having been lain in state there. Among them are notable figures such as late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and late Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, who was honored on the House side of the Capitol.
Twelve former presidents have been among those who have had their remains lain in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, with the most recent being the late President George H.W. Bush in December 2018. The most recent individual to lie in state was late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada in January 2022.
In addition to those who have lain in state, eight individuals have been lain in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, a distinction just below lying in state. Former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100, will soon become the 13th individual to lie in state at the Capitol, with Vice President Harris set to deliver the eulogy during a memorial ceremony.
