Visiting Washington DC

The United States Capitol                     

  

The new Capitol Visitor Center opened its doors on December 2nd, 2008. As a result, the procedure for booking a Capitol tour has changed.  The Capitol Visitor Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day. Tours of the U.S. Capitol are conducted from 8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but advanced reservations are required. You can book your own tours at www.visitthecapitol.gov up to 90 days in advance of the desired tour date. Please note that tour openings fill quickly, so it is advisable to book your tour well in advance of your visit. A limited number of same-day passes are available at the tour kiosks on the East and West Fronts of the Capitol or at the Information Desks on the lower level of the Capitol Visitor Center. Click on the picture of Capitol to visit Capitol Visitor Center website.

White House              

   

The White House is open to organized school, youth, veteran, military, or any other groups consisting of 10 or more individuals for self-guided tours. The tours are scheduled through members of Congress. Tours are limited, and the number of people requesting tours far exceeds the number of tours available. Tours are available Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (excluding federal holidays). Click here for more information on White House tours. Constituents are encouraged to visit the White House Visitor Center. It is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The White House Visitors Center is located at the corner of 15th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, across from Liberty Plaza.  Click on the picture of White House to visit their website. 

The United States Supreme Court           

         

The Supreme Court is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. It is closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Lectures are given in the Courtroom every hour on the half hour when the court is not in session beginning at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 3:30 p.m. When the Court is in session, from October to the end of April, you can view oral arguments.  The Court allows people in at 9:30 a.m. and the oral arguments begin at 10 a.m. Due to limited seating, you should arrive as early as 8 a.m. to wait in line to secure a seat.  In mid-May the Court takes the bench on Mondays at 10 a.m. for the release of orders and opinions. This practice continues until all the cases heard during the term are decided, usually the last week in June. These sessions typically last anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes, and are open to the public. Again, you should arrive early to secure a seat.  Click on the picture of Supreme Court to visit their website.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing                  

    

There are two options for touring the Bureau of Engraving and Printing; the first is public tours offered by the Bureau. During the Peak Season (March-August), tickets are required for the tour. The ticket booth opens at 8 a.m. and closes once all the tickets have been distributed. During the non-peak season (September-February), tickets are not required. Tours are given every fifteen minutes from 9 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. During the summer (May-August), it is also open 2 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. & 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.  The second way to visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is with a reservation through a Congressional office. Congressional tours are available at 8:15 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.  Please submit your request at least 8 weeks before the desired tour date.  Click on the picture of Bureau to visit their website.

Pentagon                            

     

The program, under the purview of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, hosts more than 100,000 visitors annually. The tour lasts for approximately 60 minutes and follows a route that is approximately one and one half miles in length. Each tour includes the mission of the Department of Defense and each of its branches of service, and visits numerous displays that highlight and depict significant moments in military history. To take a guided tour of the Pentagon, you must make a reservation in advance. Note that tour schedules can fill up quickly, so it is advisable to book your tour well in advance of your visit. All guided tours of the Pentagon are free and available by reservation only. Tours are conducted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours are not conducted on weekends or federal holidays. U.S. Residents can reserve a tour using this website or by contacting their Congressional and Senate Representative. The Congressional office staffs often submit requests for constituents.  Also, tours can be arranged directly through the Pentagon Tour Office using an online reservations system.  Click on the picture of Pentagon to visit their website.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing and Arts             

   

Free tours of the Kennedy Center are given by the Friends of the Kennedy Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. They depart from the parking plaza on Level A, and feature the Hall of States and Hall of Nations, the Center's main theaters, and dozens of paintings, sculptures, and other artworks given to the Center by foreign countries.  Public Tours begin approximately every 10 minutes. Walk-ins are welcome.  Group Tours (20 or more) can book a private tour by calling the Visitors Center at (202) 416-8340, 10 AM - 9 PM daily. Group tours are scheduled every half hour until 4:30 PM weekdays and 12:30 PM weekends.  Click on the picture of Kennedy Center to visit their website.