Other Tours and Places of Interest

Tours and Other Places of Interest

• Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial - For Information call (703)-557-0613. Metro stop: Arlington Cemetary (Tourmobile Sightseeing Transportation is available)
• Arlington National Cemetery - Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every hour on the hour & every half hour during the summer months. Narrated bus tour run one half hour after opening to one half hour before closing. Phone:(703) 692-0931 Metro: Arlington Cemetary
• The Botanic Gardens - Maryland Avenue, SW. Group tours are available by request except Saturday & Sunday or during any shows. Telephone: (202) 225-8333 Metro: Federal Center South West.
• Bureau of Engraving and Printing - 14th & C Streets, SW. See how US currency is printed.  Provides public tours Monday through Friday continually from 9:00 a.m until 2:00 p.m., leaving every 15 minutes. 
  You should enter at the Visitor Entrance on 14th Street. Group tours not available. Telephone: (202) 874-3188.  Metro: Smithsonian.
• The United States Capitol Building - The Capitol Guide Service conducts free guided tours of the Capitol Monday through Saturday throughout the year.  During the non-peak visitor season (September through February) tours are offered every 15 to 30 minutes, from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM. Please call 202-225-6827 for the latest recorded information on visiting the Capitol.  Metro: Capitol South or Union Station.
  Note: Tours are subject to cancellations or time changes. Please call the institution in question to verify posted tour information before planning your trip.
• The National Children's Museum - The National Children's Museum is a vibrant new child-centered museum in Washington, DC where exhibits and programs open a window on the world of Washington serving local, regional, national and international audiences.
• Folger Shakespeare Library - The Folger is located at 201 East Capitol St., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003-1094 Phone: 202-544-4600 Directions: The Folger is one block from the U.S. Capitol and is accessible by Metrobus. Limited street parking is available. Regularly scheduled, no prior arrangement necessary. Metro: Capitol South or Union Station
• The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - New Hampshire Avenue at Rock Creek Parkway, NW.  Free tours of the Kennedy Center are given by the Friends of the Kennedy Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.  Tours leave every 15 minutes.  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.  For more information, call (202) 416-8340 (TTY 416-8524).  Foggy Bottom Metro Station.  (There is a free shuttle bus which takes visitors from the station to the center).
• The Library of Congress - Located on First Street SE between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street, the Library of Congress houses more than 119 million items, including the papers of 23 presidents of the United States, Thomas Jefferson's rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and the earliest motion picture print.
  The Thomas Jefferson Building was completed in 1897 and restored to its original splendor in 1997. Visitors can view the Main Reading Room with its magnificent domed ceiling from the Visitors' Gallery.
  Adult's over the age of 18 can utilize the Library's collections once they register as readers in room LM 140 of the Madison Building. Please note that the stacks are closed and that books are requested for use in the appropriate reading rooms.
  There are guided tours daily, Monday through Saturday, at 11:30 am, 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00 pm. Spanish language tours are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 12:30 pm. All tours start in the Visitors' Center in the Jefferson Building.
  Researcher hours are not the same for all reading rooms. Be sure to call 707-6400 or visit our web site at www.loc.gov for complete information.
• The National Aquarium - 14th Street between Constitution Avenue & D Street, NW. Tanks filled with fish, frogs, alligators, sharks, etc. Telephone: (202) 377-2825.
• The United States National Arboretum - 444 acres of trees, shrubs and assorted plants in the northeast section of the District of Columbia. Guide services for organized groups are available. Please make reservations for groups. Entrance: New York Avenue, NE. Metro: Stadium Armory on the blue or orange lines, then Bus number B-2, B-4, or B-5 to the intersection of Bladensburg Road and R Street, Walk east of R street 300 yards to the R street gate. Telephone: (202) 637-7000.
• The National Archives - 7th & Constitution Avenue, NW. Metro stop: Archives.
• The National Cathedral - It is located on Mount Saint Alban in Washington, D.C., which is one of the highest points in the city. Guided tours are given Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:15 pm and Sundays from 12:30 to 2:45 pm except during special events and services. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 per adult and $1.00 per child for tours. The grounds tour takes you through the Bishop's Lawn and Gardens. You get many details on the plants and trees in the garden. These tours are given on Wednesdays from 10:30 - 11:30 am, April through October.
• The United States Naval Observatory - 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW. The U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. conducts a free 90 minute tour of its facilities every Monday night at 8:30 pm, except on Federal holidays. Reservations are not necessary for individuals or for small groups, but groups of 15 to 30 should call or e-mail to make reservations. The tour includes presentations about the Master Clock, observations through telescopes (weather permitting), a video presentation on the mission and history of the Observatory, and discussions with staff astronomers. The Observatory is not open to the public at any other time. For tour reservations or for further information please call (202) 762-1467, or e-mail the USNO Public Affairs Office.
• The Eisenhower Executive Office Building - Next door to the White House, the Old Executive Office Building (OEOB) commands a unique position in both our national history and architectural heritage. Designed by Supervising Architect of the Treasury, Alfred B. Mullett, it was built from 1871 to 1888 to house the growing staffs of the State, War, and Navy Departments, and is considered one of the best examples of French Second Empire architecture in the country.
• The Pentagon - Across the 14th Street Bridge in Virginia (I-395). Sights to see: the Flag Corridor & Hall of Heroes. Telephone: (703) 697-1776 Metro: Pentagon.
  Note: Tours are subject to cancellations or time changes. Please call the institution in question to verify posted tour information before planning your trip.
• The Department of State - 2201 C Street, NW.  Tours of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms are given at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Reservations are required and should be made approximately four weeks in advance.  Due to the large volume of requests, reservations can be made up to three months in advance.  Tours may be arranged by contacting the Department of State Tour Office on 202-647-3241, fax (202) 647-4232, or TDD (202) 736-4474 between the hours of 8:15 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 - 5:00 p.m. weekdays.  The State Department Tour Office is closed on weekends and holidays.  Metro stop: Foggy Bottom
  Note: Tours are subject to cancellations or time changes. Please call the institution in question to verify posted tour information before planning your trip.
• The Supreme Court - First Street & Maryland Avenue, NE. Open Monday through Friday except on Federal holidays. Tours & public lectures are conducted in the courtroom from 9:00am to 4:30pm every hour on the half hour, except when court is in session.  No tours are given during August.  Reservations can be made through you Senators' or Representatives' office.  When the Court is in session tours are only given on Thursdays and Fridays.  To see the Court in session, wait in two lines outside the building.  The lines start forming around 8:30 a.m. so get there early!  Public lectures are conducted in the courtroom from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. when the Court is not in session. Telephone: (202) 479-3000.  Metro: Capitol South or Union Station.
  Note: Tours are subject to cancellations or time changes. Please call the institution in question to verify posted tour information before planning your trip.
• The Department of the Treasury - This building was built in 1836 and since then has served as the headquarters for the Treasury Department. The tour includes the history of the Treasury Department and the building's architecture history. This includes a tour of the Andrew Johnson suite, where, in 1865, President Johnson conducted official business for 6 weeks after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It also includes the beautiful Salmon P. Chase suite, the Cash room (the site for Grant's inaugural reception), and the 1864 burglar proof vault. Entrance through Appointment Center doors located next to the White House on 15th street between F and G streets, NW. Hours: Saturday morning, lasting 90 minutes. Admission: free. For Tour information or to make an advanced reservation call (202) 622-0896. For hearing impaired tours call (202) 622-0692. Metro: Metro Center.
  Note: Tours are subject to cancellations or time changes. Please call the institution in question to verify posted tour information before planning your trip.
• Voice of America - During free guided group tours, visitors learn our history and how VOA has expanded from the shortwave broadcasts of the 1940s to today's AM, FM, television, and Internet. Our central newsroom, radio, and television studios feature prominently in the tours, which are approximately 45 minutes long.
  Tour Days and Time: Monday through Friday (except holidays) 11:45 a.m.  Reservations are required, but the tours are free. To schedule a tour, please visit our online reservation and ticketing site, which provides you with an instant overview of available VOA events.  You may also contact the Office of Public Affairs by calling (202) 619-3919, or sending an e-mail to tickets@voanews.com.  Tours are limited to no more than 25 people.
• The White House - 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more people. 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. All White House tours are free of charge. Metro: McPherson Square.
  Note: Tours are subject to cancellations or time changes. For the most up-to-date information about touring and visiting the White House, call the 24-hour Visitors Office Info Line at 202-456-7041
• Zoological Park - 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW.15: 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., animal rooms open 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; September 16 to April 30: 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., animal rooms open 10:00 - 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise posted.  Phone (202)673-4800 or 673-4717. Metro stop: Woodley Park