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Visit Our Nation's Capital
Coming to Washington is a great way to learn and see American history first hand.
If you are planning a trip to Washington, please take a moment to fill out the tour form. We can offer you tours of the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress. We can also help set up tours of the White House, the Bureau of Engraving and others.
If you have any additional questions, call our DC office 202-225-4901 or email Tours.Brady@mail.house.gov.
U.S. Capitol Tours
U. S. Capitol Tours are available Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Guided tours includes the U.S. Capitol building, both the House and Senate Galleries and the Old Supreme Court Chamber. Please contact our office at 202-225-4901 to schedule one of these tours.
White House Tours
For tours of the White House Tours, a formal tour request must be submitted through our office because . These requests must be submitted no later than 4-6 weeks in advance, but are accepted up to six months in advance. Since the White House grants these requests on a first-come-first-serve basis, the earlier we can submit your request the better your chances are at obtaining one of these limited tours. Please contact our Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-4901 to submit a formal request for a White House Tour.
Here's an alphabetical list some of the many sites in Washington, DC you may want to see during your visit.
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY - (Open daily October through March from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m., and April through September from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 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. Phone: (703) 979-4886. Nearest Metro stop: Arlington Cemetary
BOTANIC GARDENS - Maryland Avenue and First St., S.W. (Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Group tours are available with advance reservations. Phone:(202) 225-8333 Nearest Metro stop: Federal Center or MetroBuses #32,34,36
BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING - 14th and C streets, S.W. Allows you to see how U.S. currency is printed. (A 45-minute "VIP" tour for constituents is conducted Monday through Friday at 8:00 a.m.) Tickets must be reserved 2 weeks in advance through the Congressman's office. A 35-minute public tour runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed weekends, federal holidays, and December 24 through January 4. Phone: (202) 874-2330. Nearest Metro stop: Smithsonian
CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART - 17th Street and New York Avenue. (Closed Tuesdays, Open every other day including weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thurs. open 10 a.m. to 9p.m.) Closed holidays. Phone:(202) 639-1700. Nearest Metro stop: Farragut West and walk South about 4 blocks
DUMBARTON OAKS - 1703 32nd Street, N.W. (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.
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL - Located by the Tidal basin in East Potomac Park. Open 24 hours daily. At the Swan Boathouse, you can rent a pedal boat to cruise the Basin.
JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS - (Regular tours are conducted by Friends of the Kennedy Center volunteers daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Visitors should go to the Tour Lounge, Parking Level A. Congressional tour at 9:30 a.m. Reservations made through Congressional office. Phone: (202) 416-8316. Nearest Metro stop: Foggy Bottom/GWU
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - Jefferson Building, First Street and Independence Avenue, S.E. Tours offered Monday through Friday, 10:00 & 10:30 a.m., 1:00, 1:30, 3:00 & 3:30 p.m. Tours begin in the Visitor's Orientation Theater, Room LM-139 (carriage level entrance on First Street, facing the United States Capitol). The Library asks that groups over 10 people make a reservation for a specific tour. Congressional Constituent Tours are available every Tuesday and Friday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. for persons referred through the Congressional office. An additional tour from May through September on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. has been added. The capacity of each tour is 50 people, when the tour is fully booked the Congressional Constituent Group will be referred to the next available tour on the schedule. Phone: (202) 707-2630. Nearest Metro stop: Capitol South
LINCOLN MEMORIAL - Located at West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street, N.W. Open 24 hours daily. Phone: (202) 426-6895. Nearest Metro stop: Smithsonian
MOUNT VERNON - Home of George Washington. Open to the public daily: from April - August 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; from Sept. – Oct. daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. – Feb. daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission -- Adults - $15.00; Senior Citizens, age 62 and above - $14.00
Children ages 6 through 11 (accompanied by an adult) - $7.00 Children ages 5 and under (accompanied by an adult) – FREE
Save time so you don't have to wait in line and purchase tickets online. "VIP" constituent tours start every day at 8:45 a.m. from April 1 to October 31 departing from Mount Vernon's main entrance. (24 hr. advance notice) Phone: (703) 799-8608.
Children ages 6 through 11 (accompanied by an adult) - $7.00 Children ages 5 and under (accompanied by an adult) – FREE
Save time so you don't have to wait in line and purchase tickets online. "VIP" constituent tours start every day at 8:45 a.m. from April 1 to October 31 departing from Mount Vernon's main entrance. (24 hr. advance notice) Phone: (703) 799-8608.
NATIONAL AQUARIUM - 14th Street between Constitution Avenue and D Street, N.W. near the White House. The National Aquarium was established in 1873 as the nation's first aquarium. It has been located in the Department of Commerce building since 1932, and completed an extreme makeover in 2008. This home to more than 250 species of fish, frogs, alligators, sharks, etc. is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except Christmas). Admission: $9.95 for adults; $8.95 for military personnel and seniors (Age 60+), $4.95 for children (3-11), and children under 3 are free. Phone: (202) 482-2825. Nearest Metro stop: Federal Triangle or Metro Center
NATIONAL ARCHIVES - 8th and Constitution Avenue and D Street, N.W. (Tours are available Monday through Friday at 9:45am by appointment only). The tours last approximately 1 1/2 hours. See the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the summer months. Phone: (202) 357-5450. To make a large group reservation please email visitorsservices@NARA.gov. Nearest Metro stop: Navy Memorial Archives or Smithsonian.
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM -- 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, S.W. From From March through August a free pass is required to enter the Permanent Exhibition, a chronological history of the Holocaust. The earliest pass time is 10 a.m. and the latest is 4 p.m. The time on your pass is your earliest entry time and they will honor the pass up until an hour before closing. Passes are distributed at the museum on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. During the busy season, the pass line forms next to the building in the alley with benches. Admission to the Museum is free. Main telephone: 202-488-0400 or ask questions by email at VisitorsMail@ushmm.org.
OCTAGON HOUSE - 18th and New York Avenue N.W. Architectural exhibits. Served as James Madison's White House following the destruction of the real White House by the British in 1814. The Treaty of Ghent was signed here, ending the War of 1812. The Octagon is closed for repairs and is due to reopen February 16. private and group tours may be arranged by emailing aialegacyfoundation@gmail.com or calling 202-626-7576. Nearest Metro stop: Farragut North or Farragut West
PENTAGON - Across the 14th Street Bridge in Virginia. (Open Monday through Friday, tours leave every 30 minutes beginning at 9:30 A.M. and continue to 3:30 P.M.) See the Flag Corridor and Hall of Heroes. Phone: (703) 695-1776. Nearest Metro stop: Pentagon station
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION - The Smithsonian is not just one museum, but one of the world's greatest collection of museums and research centers. The Smithsonian family of museums includes the African American History and Culture Museum, the African Art Museum, the Air and Space Museum, the Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center (near Dulles Airport), the American Art Museum, the American History Museum, the American Indian Museum, the American Indian Museum Heye Center, the Anacostia Community Museum, the Arts and Industries Building, the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, the Freer Gallery of Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the National Zoo, the Natural History Museum, the Portrait Gallery, the Postal Museum, the Renwick Gallery, the Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian Institution Building, and of course, the original Smithsonian museum known as The Castle. Visitors can spend days at the Smithsonian and never see it all. For information, call (202) 357-2962.
Here are locations for some of the Smithsonian buildings.
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 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 Museum of American History -- 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
National Museum of Natural History -- 10th Street and Constitution Avenue, 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.
Hours: The museums are open daily, except Christmas, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Air and Space 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) Extended summer hours are determined annually. Nearest Metro stop: Smithsonian station
STATE DEPARTMENT - 2201 C Street, N.W. (Tours are conducted on Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.) Tours are by reservation only. Suggest booking tour three to six weeks in advance. Phone: (202) 647-3241. Nearest Metro stop: Foggy Bottom/GWU
SUPREME COURT - First Street and Maryland Avenue, N.E. (Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) except Federal holidays. Public lectures are conducted in the courtroom from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every hour on the half hour, except when court is in session. No tours are given during August. Reservations must be made by calling (202) 479-3395 between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Nearest Metro stop: Union Station or Capitol South
TOURMOBILE SERVICE - The National Park Service has concessionaire-operated guided tourmobiles that travel from Capitol Hill to Arlington Cemetery and points in between with unlimited reboarding privileges the day of ticket purchase. (Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily) Call for more information and rates. Phone: (202) 554-7950.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT - 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Exhibit of mint metals (also for sale). (Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) Phone: (202) 622-0896.
UNION STATION - Massachusetts Avenue and North Capitol Street, N.E. on Senate side of Capitol Hill. Specialty shops, cinema, restaurants, and Amtrak's mid-Atlantic hub. (Open 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday) Phone: (202) 289-1908. Nearest Metro stop: Union Station
U.S. CAPITOL - Capitol Hill. (Tours conducted from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Friday, 9:30 to 3:45 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday beginning at the Rotunda) Closed Christmas, New Year's and Thanksgiving. Visit you Congressman or Senator for passes to the House or Senate Galleries. Phone: (202) 224-5750.
U.S. NAVAL OBSERVATORY - 34th and Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Evening tours are available Monday evenings at 8:30 p.m., weather permitting.
VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL - Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Always open. Constructed of black granite to honor all Americans who served in the Vietnam War. As a special tribute to those who did not return, the names of more than 58,000 who gave their lives or who remain missing are inscribed in the Memorial's walls.
WASHINGTON MONUMENT - On the Mall at 15th Street, N.W. is currently closed to the public to repair damage from the DC Earthquake. To check when it will reopen, call (202) 485-9880 or visit the monument's website. Nearest Metro stop: Smithsonian
THE WHITE HOUSE - 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. The White House is open for self-guided Public Tours from 10 a.m. until 12 noon, Tuesday through Saturday. From mid-September through mid March, a first-come, first-served line forms at the White House Visitor Center, at 15th Street near E Street (look for the three American flags and the blue awnings). Visitor Center hours are 7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m., seven days a week. National Park Service personnel are available to assist visitors with directions and information. People in line by 11:30 a.m. are generally assured of admission. However, the tours are sometimes stopped earlier because of an official event. Once inside the House, self-guided tours usually take 20 to 35 minutes. During the peak spring and summer months, free tickets are required. Phone: (202)456-7041. Nearest Metro stop: McPherson Sq. during the week and/or Farragut North or Farragut West on the weekends
WOLF TRAP FARM PARK FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS - Virginia Route 7near Vienna, VA. The nation's first National Park for the performing arts offers opera, symphonic music, pop concerts, jazz and ballet. Open during warm weather only. Price of admission varies depending on program. Phone: (703) 255-1900.
ZOOLOGICAL PARK - 3001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Grounds open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from September 16 through April 30 and from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from May 1 through September 15. Buildings are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the winter months and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the summer months. Phone: (202) 673-4800. Nearest Metro stop: Woodley Park Zoo
METRO BUS & RAIL - You can buy a metro cards at certain metro locations that allows you unlimited use for that day. For more bus and rail information call (202) 637-7000.