For years, social media users have claimed the U.S. Capitol contains a tomb that was originally built for George Washington, the first U.S. president, but was never used and remains empty. While ...

FILE – J. Brett Blanton, Architect of the Capitol, speaks during the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington.

At one point, there were plans for the first president to be buried under the Capitol building in an area called the Crypt. Designers even received permission from Martha Washington to do so.