skip to textgo to navigation

Visiting Washington, DC

Visiting Washington, DC is very exciting, but planning for your trip can be intimidating. I hope that you find the information on this page helpful and informative.

My staff is available to assist you in requesting tickets for several Washington, DC, attractions. Please know that placing a request does not guarantee a receipt of tickets. All tickets to these popular sites are free, and the reserved tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.

Each of the sites listed below have a certain number of reserved and public tickets for each day of operation. If my staff is not able to secure reserved tickets for you, they will be happy to direct you to information on where and when the public lines for the sites form each day.

Best wishes for a pleasant trip to our nation's capital!

If you are interested in touring either the White House or the United States Capitol Building, please fill out the this tour request form and my staff will get in touch with you to determine availability.

The United States Capitol Building
On a guided tour of our nation's Capitol Building, you will see the Crypt of the Capitol, the Old Supreme Court Chamber, the Rotunda and the Old House Chamber (renamed Statuary Hall). The U.S. Capitol Building is open Monday through Saturday.  Learn more about the Capitol and Capitol Visitor Center at http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/.  

The White House
Public tours of the White House are available. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress at least 35 days in advance and no more than six months away. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis.  It is recommended that you submit your tours well in advance.  Additional tour information is available from the White House visitors' page.

The U.S. House of Representatives
The House Gallery is located on the third floor of the U.S. Capitol Building, and overlooks the House Chamber. The Capitol Building is open Monday through Saturday and the House Gallery is open Monday through Friday. Tickets to visit the gallery are readily available. Please visit my office Monday through Friday at 2455 Rayburn House Office Building to pick up free passes to visit the House Gallery.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing produces more than nine billion Federal Reserve notes each year, and produces more than 20 billion postage stamps. You can learn more about what they do on a guided tour. Tours are held Monday through Friday, and are limited to groups of ten people or less. Please call six months in advance to request tickets. (Tour information.)

The Library of Congress
Special lecture tours are held Monday through Friday. Through these lecture tours, you will learn the history of the Library, the history of the Jefferson Building and its art and architecture, and the services the Library provides to Congress and the nation.

Please call six months in advance to request tickets. (Tour information.)