Your Trip to Washington

If you are visiting Washington DC, please contact my office for a tour of the U.S. Capitol.  For additional information about other sites to visit, please click on the links below. 

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY - Arlington, Virginia. Open daily. Hours: October through March: 8:00 a.m. to 5 :00p.m.; April through September: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tomb of the Unknowns, the Amphitheater, Arlington House (the Custis-Lee mansion), and the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy and William Edward Taft. Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns: every half hour from April - October; every hour from November - March. 703-695-3250. Arlington National Cemetery.

BOTANIC GARDEN - 1st Street and Maryland Avenue, SW, DC. Open daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 202-225-8333. United States Botanic Garden. Virtual tour (requires QuickTime plug-in).

BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING 14th and C Streets, SW, DC. The Bureau prints stamps and paper money here. Tour tickets are available during the morning hours and are distributed on a first come basis, first serve basis. No admission charge. Self-guided tours. Tours are 25 minutes long, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.., and 4:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays: Tickets needed June - September. 202-874-3019. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing .

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION - E Street, between 9th and 10th Streets, NW, DC. As of August 30, 2002, tours will be closed until further notice for extensive renovations. Check out the online, narrated pictorial tour or the streaming video slideshow tour. The Federal Bureau of Investigation.

FORD'S THEATER AND LINCOLN MUSEUM - 10th Street between E and F Streets, NW, DC. General tours conducted daily, from 9: 00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on Christmas Day. Check the calendar for early closures due to theatrical producations. Self-guided tours. Guides also give talks, twice an hour, about Lincoln's assassination. Box office: 202-347-4833. 202-426-6924. Ford's Theatre.

Lincoln Museum closed until further notice. Petersen House closed for restoration work.

JEFFERSON MEMORIAL - South bank of Tidal Basin, SW, DC. Open daily (except Christmas Day), 8:00 a.m. to midnight. At the Swan Boathouse you can rent a pedal boat to cruise the Basin from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 202-426-6841. Thomas Jefferson Memorial,

JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS - Potomac waterfront, NW, DC. Regular tours are conducted by Friends of the Kennedy Center volunteers. Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on weekends. Tours 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. For more information, call 202-416-8340 (TTY: 202-416-8524). An online tour is also available.1-800-444-1324 or 202-467-4600. Kennedy Center visitor's guide.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - 1st Street and Independence Avenue, SE, DC. Open: Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. One hour tours, Monday through Friday, at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., and Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Call on day of tour to confirm times. 202-707-8000. The Library of Congress. Online tour of the Thomas Jefferson Building.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL - West Potomac Park, foot of 23rd Street, NW, DC. Open daily (except Christmas Day) from 8:00 am to 11:45 p.m. The Lincoln Memorial is a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln and the nation he fought to preserve during the Civil War (1861-1865). The Lincoln Memorial.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES - 7th and Constitution Avenues, NW, DC. The exhibit halls of the National Archives Building in downtown Washington, DC, are closed for renovation. They will reopen in summer 2003. Visit the online Exhibit Hall for highlights from some of the best of the National Archives exhibitions. Research hours: Monday & Wednesday 8:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 8:45 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.; Closed Sundays and federal holidays. 1-866-272-6272 or 202-501-5205. National Archives & Records Administration.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART - Constitution Avenue at 6th Street, NW, DC. Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10:0 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed Christmas and News Year's Days. Online tours. 202-737-4215. National Gallery of Art.

NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK - 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, DC.
April 6 to October 25:
. Grounds are open: 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
. Buildings are open: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
October 26 to April 5:
. Grounds are open: 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
. Buildings are open: 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Parking at the Zoo costs $5 for the first 3 hours, plus $2 for each additional hour up to a total of $11 per day. 202-673-4800. National Zoo.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION - Washington, DC. Each of the museums listed below is open daily (except Christmas Day) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Recorded information: 202-357-2020; general information: 202-357-2700. Smithsonian Institution.

• Arthur M. Sackler Gallery - 10th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, DC.
• Arts and Industries Building - 9th Street and Jefferson Drive, SW, DC.
• Freer Gallery of Art - 12th Street and Jefferson Drive, SW, DC.
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden - Independence Avenue at 7th Street, SW, DC.
• National Air and Space Museum - 7th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, DC.
• National Museum of African Art - 9th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, DC.
• National Museum of American Art - 9th and G Streets, NW, DC.
• National Museum of American History - 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, DC.
• National Museum of Natural History - Constitution Avenue at 10th Street, NW, DC.
• National Portrait Gallery - 8th and F Streets, NW, DC.
• Renwick Gallery - 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, DC.
• Smithsonian Castle (administrative headquarter) - 10th Street and Jefferson Drive, SW, DC. Smithsonian Information Center opens at 9:00 a.m.

UNION STATION - 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, DC. Landmark building. Amtrak train station. Colonnade features shops, food and movies. 202-371-9441

U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING - Capitol Hill, DC. Beginning Friday, March 21, 2003, all public tours of the United States Capitol have been suspended. This has been done to provide the highest level of public safety for those who work in and visit the Capitol. Staff-led tours that have already been scheduled will take place. Visitors are encouraged to call the Capitol Guide Service recorded information line at 202-225-6827 for the most up-to-date public tour information. Virtual tours are available.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AQUARIUM - 14th Street between Constitution and D Streets, NW, DC. 65 tanks of fish, frogs, alligators, sharks, etc. Open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission: $3.50; ages 2-10 years: $1.00; seniors and military personnel: $3.00; children under 2 years of age are free. Closed Christmas Day. 202-482-2826. National Aquarium.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE - 2201 C Street, NW, DC. Tours by reservation only. Guided, 45-minute tours are conducted at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 2:45 p.m. No strollers. Children over 12 recommended. Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Call for reservations: 202-647-3241. U.S. Department of State.

U.S. NAVAL OBSERVATORY - 34th and Massachusetts Avenue, NW, DC. As of March 19, 2003, public tours of the U.S. Naval Observatory have been suspended and will remain so until further notice. 202-653-1507. United States Naval Observatory.

U.S. SUPREME COURT - 1st Street and Maryland Avenue, NE, DC. Open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Saturday, Sundays, and federal holidays. Public lectures in the Courtroom every hour on the half-hour from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except when Court is in session. The Court is usually not in session during July, August and September. Cafeteria serves lunch until 2:00 p.m. 202-479-3499. U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT - 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, DC. All tours of the Main Treasury Building have been suspended until further notice. Visit the "Virtual Tour" on-line to view some of the historic spaces and decorative arts. 202-622-2000. U.S. Treasury Department.

VOICE OF AMERICA - 300 Independence Avenue, SW, DC. Tours available at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Tours last approximately 45 minutes. Reservations are required: (202) 619-3919, email: pubaff@voa.gov. Virtual tours are available. Voice of America.

WASHINGTON MONUMENT - On the Mall at 15th Street, NW, DC. Hours for the Washington Monument are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; closed December 25. Reservations for the Washington Monument may be made between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. by calling 1-800-967-2283 or over the Internet. Those making advance reservations will be charged $1.50 service fee per ticket, plus a $.50 handling fee per order. Free tickets are distributed for that day's visit from the kiosk on the Washington Monument grounds at 15th Street and Madison Drive on a first-come first-served basis. Hours for the ticket kiosk are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but tickets run out early. Washington Monument.

THE WHITE HOUSE - 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, DC. The White House Visitor Center is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and features many aspects of the White House, including its architecture, furnishings, first families, social events, relations with the press and world leaders, as well as a thirty-minute video. Allow between 20 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to explore the exhibits. The White House Historical Association also sponsors a sales area. Virtual tours of the White House are online. Tours of the White House Executive Residence have been suspended until further notice. Please call the 24-hour visitor information line at 202-456-7041 for more information. The White House.

WOLF TRAP FARM PARK FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS - Vienna, VA. Access via Route 7 or the Dulles Toll Road. 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. 703-218-6500 or 703-255-1860. Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts.