Visiting Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC, is full of important historical and cultural sights. Reserved congressional tours of several sites may be obtained by completing the web form below. Tickets are provided to residents of New York’s 18th Congressional District on a first come, first served basis. For that reason, we suggest you contact us with your dates of travel as far in advance as possible. Four months prior notice is advised. Please keep this in mind when planning your trip.

To request assistance with arranging tours of select Federal buildings and attractions, please click here.

U.S. CAPITOL - Capitol Hill. Nearest Metro stop: Capitol South. Phone: (202) 225-6827. The Capitol is open to the public for guided tours only. Tours are conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday on a first come, first serve basis at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located along the curving sidewalk southwest of the Capitol (near the intersection of First Street, S.W., and Independence Avenue). Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. daily. Constituents may also contact our office about the availability of Congressional staff-led tours of the Capitol and/or passes to the House of Representatives Gallery.

BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING - 14th and C Streets, S.W. Nearest Metro stop: Smithsonian. Phone: (202) 874-2330. See how U.S. currency is printed. Public tours run from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m and 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Information on extended summer hours can be found on BEP’s website. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis every morning beginning at 8:00 a.m. A limited number of reserved tours through Congresswoman Lowey’s office are offered at 8:15 and 8:45 a.m. throughout the year, and at 4:00, 4:15, 4:30 and 4:45 during the summer months. The BEP is closed on weekends, federal holidays, and the period between Christmas and New Years Day.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - Jefferson Building, First Street and Independence Avenue, S.E. Nearest Metro stop: Capitol South. Phone: (202) 707-8000. Public tours of the Library of Congress are offered on a first come, first served basis Monday through Friday at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30 p.m. These free tours are open to individuals and groups of no more than 10. No reservations or tickets are required. Congresswoman Lowey’s Office can arrange reserved constituent tours at 8:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Monday – Friday.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM - 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, S.W. Closest Metro stop: Smithsonian. Phone: (202) 488-0400. VIP Congressional tickets can be reserved through our office for groups of 10 or less. These tickets may be reserved for a specific day and may be used at any time throughout that day. Open 7 days 10:00a.m. to 5:30p.m. The Museum is closed on Christmas Day and Yom Kippur.

SUPREME COURT - First Street and Maryland Avenue, N.E. Nearest Metro stop: Union Station or Capitol South. Phone: (202) 479-3395. The building is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is closed Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. The Supreme Court offers a variety of educational programs. Exhibits, which are changed periodically, and a theater, where a film on the Supreme Court is shown, are located on the ground floor. Lectures in the Courtroom are typically given every hour on the half-hour, on days that the Court is not sitting, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 3:30 p.m. Constituents of Rep. Lowey may also contact her office to obtain a spot on the 2:00 pm congressional reserved tour, which is strictly limited by the Court to 6 tickets per day.

THE WHITE HOUSE - 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Nearest Metro stop: McPherson Square or Metro Center. Phone: (202) 456-7041. Tours of the White House must be scheduled through your Member of Congress or Senator.  It is advisable to contact our office at least four months in advance to request a tour of the White House, and six months in advance if planning your trip during the months of March, April, or May. Tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis approximately one month in advance of the requested date.

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Listed below are various other points of interest in the Washington area with Metro stops, telephone numbers and addresses included. We hope this is helpful in planning your trip.

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY - Nearest Metro stop: Arlington Cemetery. Phone: (703) 979-4886. Arlington National Cemetery is open to the public at 8 a.m. 365 days a year. From April 1 to Sept. 30 the cemetery closes at 7 p.m. during the other six months, it closes at 5 p.m. Sites include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Amphitheater, the Custis-Lee Mansion and the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft. The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier occurs every hour on the hour and every half hour during the summer months. There is a narrated bus tour.

BOTANICAL GARDENS - Maryland Avenue and First St., S.W. Phone: (202) 225-8333. Nearest Metro stop: Federal Center; Metro Buses # 32, 34, 36. The Conservatory is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. everyday, including weekends and holidays. The new National Garden, located immediately west of the Conservatory, will be open 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., June 1 - September 30, 2007. After September 30, the National Garden will close at 5 p.m. Individual and group tours are available with advance reservations.

CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART - 17th Street and New York Avenue. Nearest Metro stop: Farragut West. Phone: (202) 639-1700. Open 6 days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tuesdays and holidays. Open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays.

DUMBARTON OAKS - 1703 32nd Street, N.W. Phone: 202-339-6410. Gardens open daily from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Museum open Tuesday through Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Both are closed on federal holidays. Admission to garden, please call for prices.

INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM - 800 F Street, N.W. Nearest Metro stop: Gallery Place/Chinatown or Archives/Navy Memorial. Phone: (202) 393-7798. Hours are highly irregular and vary from week to week; please visit their website for more information. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. For advance tickets call (800) 551-SEAT.

JEFFERSON MEMORIAL - Located by the Tidal basin in East Potomac Park. Open 24 hours daily. Pedal boat rentals available at the Swan Boathouse.

JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS - Nearest Metro stop: Foggy Bottom/GWU. Phone: (202) 416-8316. Regular tours are conducted by Friends of the Kennedy Center volunteers from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tours depart from the Tour Lounge on Parking Level A.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL - Nearest Metro stop: Smithsonian. Phone: (202) 426-6895. Located at West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street, N.W. Open 24 hours daily.

MOUNT VERNON - Phone: (703) 799-8608. Home of George Washington. Mount Vernon is open to visitors 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. from April to August, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in March, September and October; and 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. from November to February. Please visit Mount Vernon’s website for information on transportation and ticket prices.

NATIONAL AQUARIUM - 14th Street between Constitution Avenue and D Street, N.W. Nearest Metro stop: Federal Triangle or Metro Center. Phone: (202) 482-2825. Hours of operation change throughout the year; please visit the Aquarium’s website for more information on visiting hours and ticket pricing. The Aquarium is closed on Christmas Day.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES - 8th and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Nearest Metro stop: Archives/Navy Memorial or Smithsonian. Phone: (202) 501-5205. See the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from March 15 to Labor Day, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from the day after Labor Day to March 14th. The Archives are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

OCTAGON HOUSE - 18th and New York Avenue N.W. Nearest Metro stop: Farragut North or Farragut West. Phone: (202) 638-3105. Architectural exhibits. Temporarily housed the Madison Administration following the destruction of the White House by the British in 1814. The Treaty of Ghent was signed here, ending the War of 1812. Open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Monday. Admission: $3 for adults; $1.50 for students and seniors; children under 5 are free.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION - Nearest Metro stop: Smithsonian. Phone: (202) 357-2962. The museums are open daily, except Christmas, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Extended summer hours are determined annually.

Anacostia Neighborhood Museum - 2405 Martin Luther King Avenue, S.E.

Arts and Industries Building - 900 Jefferson Drive, S.W. Freer Gallery of Art -- Jefferson Drive and 12th Street, S.W.

Hirshorn Museum & Sculpture Garden - Independence Avenue and 7th Street, S.W.

National Air & Space Building - Independence Avenue and 7th Street, S.W.

National Museum of American History - 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.

National Museum of the American Indian - 4th Street and Independence Ave., S.W.

National Museum of Natural History - 10th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.

National Gallery of Art - 4th Street between the Mall and Constitution Avenue, N.W.

National Museum of African Art - 950 Independence Avenue, S.W.

National Museum of American Art - 8th and G Streets, N.W.

National Portrait Gallery - 8th and F Streets, N.W.

Renwick Gallery - Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street, N.W.

Sackler Gallery - 1050 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle) - 1000 Jefferson Drive, S.W.

STATE DEPARTMENT - 2201 C Street, N.W. Nearest Metro stop: Foggy Bottom/GWU. Phone: (202) 647-3241. Tours are conducted Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Tours are by reservation only and must be booked three to six weeks in advance.

TOURMOBILE SERVICE - Phone: (202) 554-7950. The National Park Service has concessionaire-operated Tourmobiles that travel from Capitol Hill to Arlington Cemetery and points in between with unlimited re-boarding privileges the day of ticket purchase. Buses run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Call for more information and rates.

UNION STATION - Massachusetts Avenue and North Capitol Street, N.E. Nearest Metro stop: Union Station. Phone: (202) 289-1908. Specialty shops, cinema, restaurants, and Amtrak's mid-Atlantic hub. Open 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

U.S. NAVAL OBSERVATORY - 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. 90-minute guided tours are available on alternating Monday evenings at 8:30 p.m., weather permitting. Please visit the Naval Observatory’s website for more information.

VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL - Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Nearest Metro stop: Foggy Bottom. Phone: (202) 426-6841.

WASHINGTON MONUMENT - On the Mall at 15th Street, N.W. Nearest Metro stop: Smithsonian. Free tickets are distributed daily at 8:30 a.m. and reserved tickets are available for a nominal fee. Open daily 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The Monument is closed on July 4th and Christmas Day.

WOLF TRAP FARM PARK FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS - Virginia Route 7 near Vienna, VA. Phone: (703) 255-1900. The nation's first National Park for the performing arts offers opera, symphonic music, pop concerts, jazz and ballet. Price of admission varies depending on program.

NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK - 3001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Nearest Metro stop: Woodley Park/Zoo. Phone: (202) 673-4800. Grounds open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from April 1st through October 31st, and 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from November 1st through March 31st. Buildings are open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from April 1st through October 31s, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from November 1st through March 31st. Hours can vary throughout the year for special events; please visit the Zoo’s website for more information. The Zoo is closed on Christmas Day.

METRO BUS & RAIL - A one-day unlimited use Metro Card can be purchased at certain locations for $5.00. For more information on bus and rail service in Washington, DC, visit the WMATA’s website.