Congressman Scott Peters

Representing the 52nd District of California

Tours and Tickets - Help Page

Visiting Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is a remarkable city and the home of American politics. Whether at the peak of its tallest building—the Washington Monument—or in the depths of the Library of Congress, the city offers visitors wonderful sights that both educate and inspire. If you are planning a trip here, I hope you will have the chance to learn about our nation’s history, be awed by its beautiful monuments, and explore some of its vibrant culture.

There are certain things that my office can assist you and your family with on your visit—including tours of some of DC’s most storied buildings. However, most things in the city are open to the public without Congressional assistance.

Have a great time planning your trip and I hope to see you in our nation’s capital soon!

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Note: For November and December travelers, unfortunately, the White House is not accepting any visitors from November 27-December 3, 2014 or from December 24, 2014-January 1, 2015 due to official events on the President’s calendar. If you will be in DC only during these dates, please consider visiting the White House Visitor Center or requesting a Capitol tour that my office would be happy to help schedule for you.

While in D.C., I encourage you to take advantage of the newly remodeled White House Visitor Center located at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Center offers visitors a window into the president's iconic home and is open from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily (except January 1, Thanksgiving, and December 25). Admission is free. The Center features many aspects of the White House, including its architecture, furnishings and former first families. The National Park Service at the White House Visitor Center is also available to provide you with a variety of alternative experiences related to the White House. These include guided walks, talks, films and lectures. For more information, please call (202) 208-1631 or visit the website here.

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Visitors’ Guide:

My office has a “Welcome to Washington” visitors guide that includes a history of DC, maps of the city, suggested day trips, and detailed information about local attractions. To download a copy, click here.

Where I Can Help:

If you and your family would like to schedule a tour at one of the following locations, click the following link: tour request form

  • The Capitol Building
    • The Capitol Building is home to both the House of Representative and the Senate chambers. Please make sure to schedule your Capitol tour at least 14 days in advance. If you do not schedule a tour through my office, you can reserve a tour online and tours of the Capitol are also available through the “public walk up line” in the Capitol Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is located on 1st Street on the east side of the Capitol and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To learn more about visiting the Capitol, click here.

 

  • The White House
    • The White House is among the most sought after tours in Washington, D.C., and is a great experience in learning the history of ‘The People’s House.’ That being said, the popularity of the tour makes it extremely difficult to guarantee scheduling. Please provide as large a range of dates as is possible so as to give the best chance of scheduling a tour. The White House offers tours Tuesday-Saturday each week. Tours cannot be scheduled for a specific time during the day, so please only list dates that are open or have other flexible time obligations.

 

  • The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
    • Ever since 1862, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing has coined our nation's currency. Please make sure to schedule your tour of the Bureau at least two months in advance. If you do not schedule a tour through our office, the Bureau also offers excellent public tours. To learn more about availability and those options, please go here. We recommend arriving at the designated ticket stand at 8 a.m. to receive tickets. You can also receive more information by calling their tour line at 202-874-2330.

 

  • The Library of Congress
    • The Library’s collection is an unparalleled 158 million items including nearly 40 million books. Please make sure to schedule your tour of the Library of Congress at least two months in advance. If you do not schedule a tour through our office, the Library also offers wonderful public tours from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every hour on the half hour Monday through Friday. Additionally, the Library of Congress has public tours on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.,11:30 a.m.,1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Additional information about touring the Library of Congress can be found here.

Additional DC Sights:

DC has hundreds of amazing places to visit without the help of my office. Here are some of my favorites:

Government Buildings:

Museums and Galleries:

Memorials and Monuments:

Getting Around D.C.

Issues: 
Local Issues, Congressional Issues