There is so much to do and see in our nation’s capital that you’ll have to come back many times to take it all in. Below please find a great list of attractions in Washington and information on how to sign up for tours. Access the following link to request a tour through Sen. Voinovich's office: tour request form
White House Tours
www.whitehouse.gov/history/tours/
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
(202) 456-7041 (24-hour Tour Information Line)
Metro Stops: Farragut North, Farragut West, Metro Center or Federal Triangle
As of September 2003, the White House has re-opened its doors to the public and is accepting group tour requests. All tours are self-guided, although tour officers are positioned throughout the White House to help answer questions and provide interesting information. The following is a list of rules and regulations set forth by the White House that all congressional offices must follow:
- All requests must be made through a congressional office (tickets are no longer available at the Visitor's Center on a "drop-in" or "stand-in-line" basis.)
- All requests must be made at least 4-6 months in advance.
- Tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday between 7:30 A.M. and 11:30 A.M.
- Decisions will be made by the Visitor's Center 2-3 weeks prior to the requested tour date.
- All confirmed tours must provide security information for each individual in the group.
- Keep in mind our office facilitates the request and the decision for acceptance is made by the White House.
To submit a request for a group please fill out a tour request form or contact Senator Voinovich's office at (202) 224-3353. The tour coordinator will submit a request on your behalf to the White House and will contact you once the White House has provided notification that it can or cannot accommodate the request. Please understand that due to limited availability, we cannot guarantee that every request will be fulfilled; we therefore encourage each group to be flexible.
After a group is confirmed, security information must be submitted for each individual in the group over the age of 15. Required security information includes the following: full name, date of birth, social security number, country of origin, US citizenship. All guests above the age of 15 will be required to present a photo identification card. Individuals whose identification does not match the information on the security form will not be permitted to tour the White House.
White House Visitor Center
The White House Visitor Center located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets, and is open to the public seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The center features many aspects of the White House, including its architecture, furnishings, first families, social events, and relations with the press and world leaders, as well as a 30-minute video. The White House Historical Association also sponsors a sales area. Restrooms are available, but food service is not.
Visiting Capitol Hill
We encourage you to include a visit to Capitol Hill on your trip to Washington. Take a few moments to stop by our office, Suite 524 of the Hart Senate Office Building. The main visitor's entrance is located on Second Street, NE.
Directions to Senator Voinovich's Office:
From Union Station Metro (Red Line):
Exit Union Station and walk across the plaza (Columbus Circle) toward the ring of state flags. Cross the street encircling the plaza and continue south on Delaware Avenue, NE. (You will be heading toward the Capitol.) Continue on Delaware until you reach C Street, NE, and turn left.
As you walk east down C Street, you will pass the Russell Senate Office Building on your right. Continue on C Street and cross First Street. On your right will be the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The most convenient entrance to the public for the Dirksen building is on C Street, NE, between First and Second Streets, NE.
If you continue past Dirksen, the Hart Senate Office Building will be on your right. The senator's office is SH-524, room 524 in the Hart Senate Office Building.
Passes to the Senate Galleries
We hope you enjoy your visit to Washington, and viewing a session of Congress. The galleries of the Senate and the House of Representatives are open to view whenever either body is in session. Passes are always required to visit the galleries. These free passes are available in our office, suite 524 of the Hart Senate Office Building. If your party requires more than 20 passes, please call ahead to our office so we can have them ready for you. PLEASE NOTE: Children under the age of six are not permitted in the galleries.
Senate Gallery
The line for entry to the Senate Gallery is at the North side of the Capitol. From the Hart building, you can turn left on First Street and walk to the corner of First Street and Constitution Avenue.
Houses of Representatives Gallery
The line for entry to the House of Representatives Gallery is found at the South side of the Capitol.
Capitol Hill Tours
WELCOME TO THE U.S. CAPITOL
Your visit to the historic U.S. Capitol begins as you enter the Capitol Visitor Center. With its soaring spaces and skylight views of the Capitol dome, the Visitor Center welcomes you on a journey of discovery. The Capitol is home to the U.S. Congress and its two legislative bodies, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Through films, exhibits, and tours, you will learn about how Congress works, how this magnificent building was built, and how citizens can participate in this extraordinary experiment called representative democracy.
LOCATION AND HOURS
The Capitol Visitor Center, the new main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located below the East Plaza of the Capitol between Constitution and Independence Avenues.
Visitors: The Visitor Center is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Inauguration Day.
Official Business: Visitors with official business appointments may enter the Visitor Center as early as 7:15 a.m.
GUIDED TOURS OF THE CAPITOL
Guided tours of the Capitol begin at the Orientation Theaters on the lower level of the Capitol Visitor Center. “Out of Many, One,” a 13-minute film, illustrates how this country established a new form of government, highlights the vital role that Congress plays in the daily lives of Americans, and introduces you to the building that houses the U.S. Congress.
Tours are free, but tour passes are required.
Tour hours: 8:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday
Advance Passes: Tours may be booked in advance online at www.visitthecapitol.gov, through the office of your Senators or Representative, or through the Office of Visitor Services by calling (202) 226-8000.
Same-Day Passes: A limited number of passes are available each day at the tour kiosks on the East and West Fronts of the Capitol or at the Information Desks in Emancipation Hall on the lower level of the Visitor Center.
WATCHING CONGRESS IN SESSION
Hours: The Senate and House Galleries are open to visitors whenever either body is in session. In addition, the House Gallery is open 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, when the House is not in session.
Passes: Passes are required to enter either gallery at any time. Visitors may obtain gallery passes from the offices of their Senators or Representatives. Gallery passes are available for international visitors at the House and Senate Appointment Desks on the upper level.
DINING AND GIFT SHOPS
Restaurant (Lower Level): Freshly made soups, salads, specialty entrees, pizza, sandwiches, desserts, and beverages reflect the diverse bounty of America. Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Saturday.
Gift Shops (Upper Level): A unique selection of merchandise inspired by the Capitol’s art and architectural treasures, fun and educational gifts, books, jewelry, and exciting custom-designed products make excellent souvenirs. Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday.
EXHIBITION HALL (LOWER LEVEL)
Here you can explore the only exhibition in the country dedicated to telling the story of Congress and the construction of the U.S. Capitol. Exhibit highlights include rarely seen historic documents from the National Archives and the Library of Congress, artifacts from around the country, and an 11-foot-tall touchable model of the Capitol dome. You may also watch the action on the floors of both chambers of Congress at the House and Senate theaters when Congress is in session. Numerous interactive stations allow you to discover more about Congress, its Members, and the Capitol. Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ACCESS
Visitors have direct access from the Capitol Visitor Center to the historic Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, one of the nation’s great treasures, via the Library of Congress Tunnel. The entrance to the tunnel is located on the upper level of the Visitor Center near the House Appointment Desk.
VISITOR TIPS
All areas of the Visitor Center are smoke free.
Strollers and Baby Changing: Strollers are permitted in the Visitor Center and baby-changing stations are available in each family restroom.
Public Telephones and ATMs: These are located outside each Gift Shop.
Foreign Languages: Visitors may request listening devices for foreign-language versions of the films and the exhibition at the Information Desks.
Visitors with Disabilities: Visitors may request wheelchairs from Capitol Visitor Center staff wearing red vests or at one of the Information Desks in Emancipation Hall. Sign-language interpreting for tours is available when booked in advance. Listening devices with audio description of the films and exhibition are available at the Information Desks. All films have open captioning.
Service Animals: Service animals are allowed in the Visitor Center and the Capitol.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Before entering the Capitol Visitor Center, all visitors are screened by a magnetometer and all items that are permitted inside the building are screened by an x-ray device. The following items are strictly prohibited:
Any bag larger than 14" wide x 13" high x 4" deep
Aerosol containers
Any pointed object (i.e., knitting needles, letter openers, etc. Note: pens and pencils are permitted.)
Cans and bottles
Electric stun guns, martial arts weapons or devices
Food or beverages of any kind
Guns, replica guns, ammunition, and fireworks
Knives of any size
Mace and pepper spray
Non-aerosol spray (prescriptions for medical needs are permitted)
Razors and box cutters
The following are allowed in the Capitol Visitor Center and the Capitol, but not in the Senate and House Galleries:
Battery-operated electronic devices (Medical devices are permitted.)
Cameras
Creams, lotions, or perfumes
Strollers
Video recorders or any type of recording device
RESPECTING CAPITOL ART
During your visit, help preserve the Capitol’s statues and other works of art. Enjoy looking at the, but do not touch them – each touch does some damage.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EVACUATION AT THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER:
• Proceed to the nearest exit – exit up stairs
• All emergency exits at the Visitor Center are located on the Upper Level
• Follow direction of U.S. Capitol Police
• If assistance is needed, seek U.S. Capitol Police help
Popular Attractions
Basic information on several Washington attractions is provided on the links below. At locations where it is required, we are pleased to submit requests on behalf of our Ohio constituents.
Please keep in mind that all tour requests are awarded by the locations on a first-come, first-served basis, and are subject to availability. In order to best accommodate your request, please submit tour requests as soon as possible. Families and groups of 10 people or less should submit requests at least two months in advance of a visit, and large organized groups should submit requests at least six months before a planned visit. Please note that tours fill up very quickly during holiday times and in the spring and summer months.
Popular Attractions Websites:
Holocaust Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
202-488-0400
Open: 10 am - 5:30 pm, daily. Admission is free, but tickets to the permanent exhibit are required. Same-day, timed tickets can be obtained at the museum beginning at 8 am, or advance tickets can be purchased for a nominal fee by calling 1-800-400-9373 or online at www.tickets.com. The museum tells the story of the Holocaust through its three-story permanent exhibition. Points of interest include actual barracks from Auschwitz, the Tower of Faces, and the Hall of Remembrance.
Kennedy Center
2700 F Street, NW
202-467-4600 or 1-800-444-1324
Public tours last one hour and leave every 15 minutes between 10 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday and 10 am and 1 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.
The memorial to our 35th president is a major cultural center for Washington and the nation and features Broadway-bound plays, the National Symphony, grand opera, great American films, fine dining and more.
Library of Congress
10 1st Street, SE
202-707-5000
Building Hours: The Jefferson Building is open from 10 am - 5:30 pm, Monday - Saturday. The Library is closed on Sunday and all federal holidays.
Public Tour: 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30, Monday-Friday; 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30, Saturday. The tour begins at the Information Desk in the lobby of the Great Hall of the Jefferson Building. Tour participants should use the West Front doors. Admission is free.
National Archives
7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
1-866-272-6272
Open daily 10 am — 5:30 pm. Tour reservations are not required. Admission is free.
The National Archives is the repository for legislative documents and historical records of Congress, as well as the entire federal government. The Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and extensive genealogical and census files are housed in the National Archives.
National Cathedral
Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NW
202-537-6200
Open: 10 am - 4:30 pm, daily; Nave level open until 9 pm, May 1 - Labor Day
Daily guided tours: 10-11:30 am, 12:45-3:15 pm, Monday-Saturday; 12:45-2:30 pm Sunday, except during services. No guided tours on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Palm Sunday, Good Friday afternoon, and Easter. Admission is free.
The sixth largest cathedral in the world and the second largest in the United States, this 14th century-Gothic style cathedral contains gardens, shops, and an observatory gallery that offers a spectacular view of Washington.
National Gallery of Art and East Wing
6th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
202-737-4215
Open: 10 am - 5 pm, Monday - Saturday; 11 am - 6 pm, Sunday. Admission is free.
World masterpieces from medieval times to the present adorn the National Gallery. Included are major works by Boticelli, Cezanne, da Vinci, Raphael, Renoir, and many other masters. The East wing highlights contemporary art.
The Pentagon
Located off Route I-395 in Arlington, Virginia
703-697-1776
For security reasons, the Pentagon does not offer tours to the general public.
Tours of the Pentagon are available to schools, educational organizations, and other select groups by reservation only. Groups interested in touring the Pentagon should contact the Pentagon Tour Office at 703-695-1776.
Smithsonian Institution Museums
Located on the National Mall and at various locations in Washington.
202-357-2020
Open daily, 10 am - 5:30 pm (closed Christmas). Admission is free. Tickets are not required.
The world's largest museum complex and research organization, the Smithsonian Institution's exhibitions offer visitors a glimpse into its vast collection numbering over 142 million objects documenting art, history, science, and more. The Smithsonian Institution contains the following museums and galleries:
· Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort Place, SE
· Arthur M. Sackler Gallery,
1050 Independence Avenue, SW
· Arts and Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive, SW
· The Castle, 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW
· Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
· Freer Gallery of Art, 12th Street and Jefferson Drive, SW
· Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden,
7th Street and Independence Ave., SW
· National Air and Space Museum,
600 Independence Avenue, SW
· National Museum of African Art,
950 Independence Avenue, SW
· National Museum of American Art, 8th and G Streets, NW
· National Museum of American History,
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
· National Museum of the American Indian, (under construction)
· National Museum of Natural History,
10th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
· National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets, NW
· National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
· National Zoo, 3000 Connecticut Avenue, NW
· Renwick Gallery, 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
· S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive, SW
Supreme Court of the United States
First and East Capitol Streets, NE
202-479-3211
The building is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. It is closed Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. Public lectures in the Courtroom are typically given every hour on the half-hour, on days that the Court is not sitting, beginning between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm
Arlington National Cemetery
Located on Memorial Drive in Arlington, Virginia
703-692-0931
Hours: Open daily 8 am - 7 pm, April - September; 8 am - 5 pm, October - March
Public Tours: Choice of a self-guided walking tour or a paid shuttle tour. Admission is free.
Here is the final resting place of thousands of American soldiers, sailors, and airmen. The grave of President John F. Kennedy and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its precision-drill honor guard are two of the most visited sites on the grounds. Arlington House, home of General Robert E. Lee, crowns the hill. The “Women in Military Service in America” memorial adorns the ceremonial entrance to the cemetery.
U.S. Botanic Gardens
1st Street and Maryland Avenue, SW
202-225-8333 or 202-226-4082 (group tours)
Open: 10 am - 5 pm, daily. Public Tour: 11 am - 1:30 pm, daily for walk-in visitors on a first-come basis. Group tour for 10 or more: 10:30 am and 1 pm, Monday - Friday. Reservations must be made at least three weeks in advance for group tours. Admission is free.
Located at the base of Capitol Hill, the conservatory features more than 8,000 varieties of exotic flowers, fruits, and plants.
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
202-647-3241
Guided tours are given at 9:30 am, 10:30 am, and 2:45 pm, Monday through Friday. The tour is 45 minutes in duration. Reservations are required and should be made approximately four weeks in advance. The tour features displays of fine 18th century furniture and an Americana collection in the diplomatic reception rooms and is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
1850 West Basin Drive, SW
202-376-6704
Open daily: 8 am - Midnight; Closed Christmas. Admission is free.
The FDR Memorial honors our 32nd president as not only a man, but as a world-leader who brought America through the Great Depression and World War II and changed the course of a nation and the world. The Memorial is open-air and consists of granite walls, statues, water falls, and reflecting pools.
Iwo Jima Memorial
Located on Route 50 near Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia
703-285-2601
Open 24 hours a day. Admission is free.
This memorial is dedicated to all Marines who have given their lives in the defense of the U.S. since 1775. The statue depicts one of the most famous incidents of World War II and stands as a symbol of this Nation's esteem for the honored dead of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Jefferson Memorial
14th Street, SW, on the Tidal Basin
202-426-6841
Open 24 hours a day, except Christmas. Admission is free
The Jefferson Memorial celebrates our 3rd president's architectural as well as governmental influence in America. A 19-foot bronze figure of Jefferson dominates the interior, and the walls are inscribed with his most famous writings, including excerpts from the Declaration of Independence.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Located adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool
202-619-7222
Open daily, 8 am to midnight. Admission is free.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial features 19 foot soldiers arrayed for combat, with the American flag as their symbolic objective. A 164-foot wall is etched with 2,500 photographic images of the support personnel whose efforts sustained the military operation.
Lincoln Memorial
West Potomac Park and 23rd Street, NW
202-426-6841
Open daily, except Christmas. Admission is free.
Dedicated to our 16th president, the Lincoln Memorial is one of the most impressive sights in Washington. The giant seated figure of Lincoln overlooks the Reflecting Pool, the Washington Monument, and the Capitol. Memorial walls are inscribed with passages from the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's second Inaugural Address.
Navy Memorial & Naval Heritage Center
7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
202-737-2300 or 1-800-723-3557
Memorial open daily
Heritage Center Open: 9:30 am - 5 pm, Monday - Saturday; 12 - 5 pm, Sunday
Admission is free but there is a charge for viewing the film, "At Sea."
The Navy Memorial honors the men and women of the U.S. Navy. It centers on a circular plaza bearing the world's largest map of the world, and consists of towering masts, waving flags, tiered waterfalls, and a seven-foot statue of a lone sailor overlooking the world's seas. The Naval Heritage Center, located in Suite 123 at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, offers interactive videos and a Ship store. An hourly presentation of the film "At Sea" is shown in the Heritage Center.
Naval Observatory
34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW
202-762-1438
Public tours are offered on alternating Monday evenings from 8:30 - 10 pm and are by reservation only. Visit the website to complete an online reservation form. Tour reservations must be submitted 4-6 weeks in advance. Visitors should enter the grounds via the South Gate located near the Embassy of New Zealand. Photo ID required for all adults. Admission is free.
The U.S. Naval Observatory is the preeminent authority in the areas of precise time and astrometry, and distributes earth orientation parameters and other astronomical data required for accurate navigation and fundamental astronomy.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Constitution Avenue and 21st Street, NW
202-634-1568
Open 24 hours a day. Admission is free.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the men and women of the armed forces who served in the Vietnam War. The names of more than 58,000 who gave their lives or remain missing are listed, in the chronological order they became casualties, on the black granite panels.
Washington Monument
15th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
202-426-6841 or 1-800-967-2283
Open daily 9 am - 5 pm, except Christmas and Independence Day.
Admission is free, although tickets are required. Same-day timed tickets may be obtained at the ticket kiosk on 15th Street at the base of the monument, or advanced tickets may be obtained for a small fee from Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. The famous marble obelisk, honoring America's first president, is the tallest structure in the nation's Capitol and will remain so by law. Elevators will take you to the top of the 555-foot monument for a spectacular view of the city.
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