Visiting D.C.

Tours of Washington D.C.

• The Capitol Building

  Tours of the U.S. Capitol are arranged through the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). If you prefer, my office is happy to schedule guided tours of the Capitol Building departing from my office Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.*Please note that preferred times are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to request these tours up to three months in advance, especially if requesting during peak tourist season (April-September).

  For further information, including travel advice and restricted items, please consult the CVC's website at http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/.

• The White House

  Public tours of the White House require a 21 day advance notice. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis approximately one month in advance of the requested date. We encourage you to submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available.  Due to high demand in the spring and summer seasons, requests need to be submitted months in advance.  You will find out if the tour has been approved approximately three to four weeks before the scheduled date of the tour. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, please call the 24-hour line at 202-456-7041. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.

• The Pentagon

  Located just across the Potomac from Washington, D.C. in Arlington, Virginia, the Pentagon serves as a symbol of the strength of the American defense establishment. Pentagon tours are free, but by reservation only.  Tours are available between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. They are not conducted on weekends or federal holidays.

  Please keep in mind that for security reasons, tours cannot be scheduled less than fifteen days in advance. 

• The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

  Bureau of Engraving and Printing tours allow the general public a rare glimpse at one of the most intriguing processes in American history: the production of our currency. Free public tours are offered every fifteen minutes between 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., and between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The Bureau offers extended hours until 3:45p.m. between April-August.

  Tickets are required during peak season (March-August); these tickets can be ordered at the Bureau's ticket booth located at Raoul Wallenberg Place. The ticket booth opens at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, but lines form early and we recommend arriving at the booth no later than 7:00 a.m. All tickets are for same day use. From September through February (non-peak season) no tickets are required for tours of the Bureau.

  School group tours (fifty people maximum) require a reservation and are only offered between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

• Library of Congress

  The Library of Congress is one of the oldest research institutions in the country. It hosts an impressive collection of books, manuscripts, maps, photographs and other original historical documents that are readily available to both the general public and Members of Congress.  I urge you to visit the library to learn about the history, architecture, and collections of America’s oldest cultural institutions.

  The Library of Congress offers hour-long, fully accessible, docent-led tours of the historic Thomas Jefferson Building. Please submit your request for a reserved tour at least two months in advance. For further information, including directions, a list of current exhibits, and general tour questions, please call the Library’s Visitor office at (202) 707-0919 or visit http://www.loc.gov/visit/.

• The Supreme Court

  The Supreme Court building is the central locus of our nation’s legal system. The hundreds of landmark decisions handed down by this court will continue to guide American legal history for generations to come. Exhibits and lectures detailing these historic events are offered on a rotating basis throughout the year. Courtroom seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-seated basis, although you can contact our office to book spots ahead of time. We cannot book more than six spots for any given time and we ask that your request be made at least three months before your desired date.

  From October through April, oral arguments can be viewed by the general public when the court is in session. Although arguments do not begin until 10:00 a.m., we advise you to arrive as early as 8:00 a.m. in order to secure seats. Please view the Calendar of Oral Arguments for a detailed schedule.

  Between the months of May and June the general public may observe the Court for the release of orders and opinions, a practice that normally lasts around fifteen to twenty minutes. Although these sessions do not begin until 10:00 a.m., we again urge you to arrive as early as possible to secure seats.

• Department of Treasury

  *Note: The Department of Treasury tour does not show the process of printing money. For a tour of currency production, please refer to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing tour.  

  Tours of the Main Treasury Building, the third oldest building in Washington, are free of charge, available by advanced reservation, and must be made through one of your Congressional office - may office is happy to . The tour features restored spaces such as the 1864 Burglar-Proof Vault and the marble Cash Room. The building is also home to the restored office of Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury during the Civil War and the temporary office used by President Andrew Johnson following Abraham Lincoln's assassination, which has been restored to its 1860s appearance.

  Tours are available on Saturday mornings, excluding some holiday weekends, at 9:00, 9:45, 10:30, and 11:15 a.m. You can find out more about dates, times and reservations for tours of the Main Treasury Building. For more information on tours and reservations, visit the Treasury Curator web site. Also, please visit the "Virtual Tour" to view some of the historic spaces and decorative art.

• Government Printing Office

  For over 150 years, the U.S Government Printing Office has worked to help share our Nation’s history with the American people. At the heart of the organization is the goal of “Keeping America Informed,” which is accomplished by providing important government publishing and distribution services.  Come witness history in the making at the GPO, one of the largest information processing, printing, and dispersal facilities in the world.

  Tours of the GPO are available from June 4th through August 29^th on Tuesdays and Thursdays at either 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. If you are interested in a tour please contact my Washington, D.C. office and we would be happy to help you out.