VISITING THE NATION’S CAPITAL - WASHINGTON, DC
Our nation’s capital is beautiful throughout the year and is a popular vacation spot for people around the world. With the museums, parks and monuments, almost all of which is free, a trip to Washington, DC is an enriching historical and cultural experience. If you and your family are planning a trip to Washington and would like a tour of the U.S. Capitol or the White House, please notify us early!
White House Tour
If you are interested in taking a White House tour you must submit a request in writing to the following email address: Jessica Straus
Although email is preferable, requests may be sent via mail to:
Staff Assistant, Rep. Michael C. Burgess
1224 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
In the subject line of the email, please indicate: WHITE HOUSE TOUR REQUEST
All White House tour requests must now adhere to the following security parameters set by the U.S. Secret Service.
- All tour groups should contact their Congressional Offices at least 3 to 6 months in advance of the date on which they wish tour the White House. But White House tours can be submitted up to 6 months in advance. It is important to note that tours are allotted by the White House on a first come basis. You should contact our office as early as possible to request a tour. We think it is important to make you aware that there are a very limited amount of tours granted and the likelihood of receiving a tour decreases significantly the closer your request is to the tour date.
- Please have an exact head count when submitting a White House tour request to your Congressional Office.
- All White House tours are conducted between 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
- All persons are subject to background check conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and will have to submit the following information to the Tour Coordinator of the Congressman's Office within 10 days of receiving notification that the tour request is honored and set.
All persons must submit the following information:
- Name (as it appears on a photo ID)
- Date of Birth
- Country or Origin
- Whether they are a U.S. citizen
- After you have submitted your email: Please call the office (202) 225-7772 to provide your Social Security Number (For security reasons, we suggest you do not email this information, but it is necessary in order for us to process your tour request.)
If you are not able to secure a tour of the White House there is the White House Visitors Center that is open from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. 7 days a week. It is located at the intersection of 15th and E Streets NW.
U.S. Capitol
The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. It has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for almost two centuries. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored; today, it stands as a monument not only to its builders but also to the American people and their government.
U.S. Capitol Tours also require advanced notice, but are generally easier to accommodate. Please send a request via email or mail (with the above information) to Jessica Straus. For U.S. Capitol tours please specify:
· Name
· Number of people in the group
· Requested Date for the tour (M-F only)
· Requested Time (9:30 AM or 1:30 PM)
The Congressional Special Services Office provides information about tours for the disabled by telephone at 202-224-4048 (voice) or 202-224-4049 (TDD). Additional accessibility information is available.
Because of increased security and the construction phase of the Capitol Visitor Center, please contact the U.S. Capitol Guide Service if you have any questions before your visit. Recorded information is available at 202-225-6827.
Other Popular Washington, DC Tours
In addition to the White House and the U.S. Capitol, our office can assist you in obtaining tours to the following buildings. These tours also require significant advanced notice – usually two months.
For more tours, please visit the "Touring Washington, DC" segment on the Constituent Services segment of this website.
U.S. Department of the Interior Tour
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), with eight bureaus, is the nation's principal conservation agency, charged with the mission "to protect and provide access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and our commitments to island communities."
Specifically, the tour takes you to the following destinations:
· Washington Monument
· Jefferson Memorial
· Ford’s Theater
· FDR Memorial
· Lincoln Memorial
· Vietnam Veterans Memorial
· Korean War Memorial
· Arlington Cemetery
· World War Two Memorial
Guests should arrive at 8:30am and report to the Guards Desk at the "C" Street Entrance, the tour leaves at approximately 9:00am. Lunch is a "group" setting and the tour concludes around 3:30pm.
More locations to visit while in Washington:
U.S Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Library of Congress
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Smithsonian Institution
U.S. Supreme Court of the United States
Union Station
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of Treasury
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Weather Channel - Local Weather in Washington, DC
