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United States Capitol
202-224-3121
Location: East Capitol St. and 1st Street, SE
Metro stops: Capitol South or Union Station
The Capitol Guide Service offers a forty-minute guided tour from 8:50 am to 3:20 pm Monday through Saturday, departing from the Capitol Visitors Center. The tour runs every 20 minutes. They are closed Christmas, New Year’s and Thanksgiving. Visitors are welcome to view the floor debates from the galleries by obtaining passes from your Congressman or Senator.
Library of Congress
202-707-5458
Location: Jefferson Building, 1st Street and Independence Ave, SE
Metro stops: Capitol South
One hour public tours are offered without reservations for individuals and groups of no more than 10 people on Monday-Saturday at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm (except Saturday). Groups with more than 10 people should make reservations for a specific tour.
The White House
202-456-7041
Location: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Metro stops: Metro Center or Federal Triangle
202-426-6840
Location: On the Mall at 15th Street NW
Metro stops: Smithsonian
The Washington Monument is the city’s tallest structure, standing at 555’ 5”, a tribute to our nation’s first president. There are 897 steps the public may walk down, however, to reach the top, elevators must be used. The lines tend to be long, but they generally move quickly. Your wait will be rewarded by a panoramic view of the nation’s capitol from the top of the Monument. The monument is open daily except July 4th and December 25th. Admission is free but does require a ticket. The Washington Monument Lodge, located on 15th street, opens at 8:30 am for distribution of free, same day, timed tickets. Summer hours are 9:00 am-10:00 pm (May 31st-September 6th) with the last tour beginning before 9:45 pm. The hours for the rest of the year are 9:00 am-5:00 pm with the last tour beginning before 4:45 pm.
Jefferson Memorial
202-426-6822
Location: South end of the Tidal Basin at 14th Street
Metro stops: Smithsonian
This monument is in honor of Thomas Jefferson, third president, author of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. You may rent paddleboats at the Swan Boathouse and cruise the Basin. The public may view the Thomas Jefferson Memorial 24 hours a day, but Park rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 am-11:30 pm daily.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
Location: Between the Potomac River and the Cherry Tree Walk of the Tidal Basin
Metro stop: Smithsonian
This memorial is a tribute to both President Roosevelt and the time in which he lived. There is a sequence of four outdoor rooms, each representing on of FDR’s four terms in office. The public may view the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial 24 hours a day, but Park rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 am-11:30 pm daily. They also provide interpretive programs every hour on the hour from 10:00 am-11:00 pm.
Lincoln Memorial
202-426-6895
Location: West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street
Metro stops: Foggy Bottom
This monument is in honor of Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president, overlooking the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument and the US Capitol. Open 24 hours daily.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
202-634-1568
Location: Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Ave NW, on the Mall
Metro stops: Foggy Bottom
Constructed of black granite to honor all Americans who served in the Vietnam War. In chronological order are over 58,000 names inscribed in the marble wall. Open 24 hours daily.
The U.S. Supreme Court
202-479-3030
Location: 1st and East Capitol Streets
Metro stops: Capitol South
The building is open Monday through Friday (except Federal Holidays) from 9:30 am-4:30 pm. Courtroom lectures are available Monday through Friday. When Court is not in session, lectures are scheduled every hour on the half hour from 9:30 am-3:30 pm. When Court is in session lectures begin only after Court has adjourned for the day.
Botanic Gardens
202-225-8333
Location: Independence and First St, SW
Metro stops: Federal Center SW or Capitol South
At the foot of the Capitol, under 29,000 square feet of glass, surrounded by ornamental pools this conservatory has more than 8,000 different types of exotic fruits, flowers and plants.: The conservatory is open 10:00 am-5:00 pm daily (including holidays). Free 45 minute tours may be available at the Visitor Information Desk. Groups of 10 to 25 adults may schedule a free 45 minute tour, available Monday through Friday from 10:30 am-1:30 pm.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
202-488-0400
Location: just south of Independence Ave SW between 14th St and Raoul Wallenberg Place
Metro stops: Smithsonian
The Holocaust Museum serves as a national repository for Holocaust related artifacts and materials. Permanent exhibition is recommended for those over the age of 11. Open 7 days a week except on Christmas and Yom Kippur. Admission is free, but a pass is required from March through August. These timed passes are available on the day of your visit or online. The earliest pass time is 10:00 am and the latest is 4:00 pm
Smithsonian Museums
202-357-2700
Location: National Mall
Metro stops: Smithsonian
As the world’s largest museum complex, it holds over 139 million artifacts of American history; including the Air and Space Museum, Arts and Industries, Museum of Natural History, and Museum of American History. Open year round from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
National Gallery of Art
202-737-4215
Location: National Mall between 3rd and 7th Sts, NW
Metro stops: Smithsonian or Archives
The National Gallery of Art is one of the world’s largest marble structures, measuring 780 feet in length and containing more than 500,000 square feet. Open year round Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sundays from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm every day except Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Ford’s Theater and Lincoln Museum
202-426-6924
Location: 10th Street between E & F Sts
Metro stops: Metro Center or Gallery Place or Archives
The building is open every day between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm with the exception of Christmas. The Peterson house, where President Lincoln died, is across the street and free tours are available.
Arlington National Cemetery
703-607-8052
Location: Memorial Drive and Hwy 110
Metro stops: Arlington Cemetery
Open daily October through March from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and April through September from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. View the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every hour on the hour and every half hour during the summer months. See the Amphitheater, the Custis-Lee Mansion, and the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft.
Washington National Cathedral
202-537-6200
Location: Massachusetts & Wisconsin Ave NW
Metro stops: Tenleytown Station to “30” series Metro bus
The National Cathedral is the second-largest Gothic cathedral in the United States. From the Cathedral, you may view the nation’s capitol or simply enjoy the peaceful gardens and the beauty of the Cathedral. The Cathedral is open from 10:00 am-5:30 pm Monday through Friday with tours offered from 10:00 am-11:30 am, and 12:45 pm-3:00pm. It is open on Saturday from 10:00 am-4:30 pm with tours offered from 10:00-11:30 am and 12:45 pm-3:00 pm and Sundays from 8:00 am-5:00 pm with tours offered from 1:00pm-2:30 pm. Open to the public all-year, the requested contribution to visit the Cathedral is $5 per person.
Smithsonian National Zoo
202-673-4717
Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave, NW
Metro stops: Woodley Park Zoo or Cleveland Park
Visit the new panda exhibit, see the orangutans swing or tour the heritage gardens and wetlands. This visit takes a minimum of three hours; parking charges are per hour. The animal exhibits are open from 10:00 am-6:00 pm daily from April to October and from 10:00 am-4:30 am daily from November to March. The Visitor Center and Panda Plaza open at 9 a.m. daily.
The Department of Treasury
202-622-0896
Location: Next to the White House on 15th Street, between F & G Sts, NW
Metro stops: Metro Center
This tour includes the history of the Treasury Department and the building’s architecture history, including a tour of the Andrew Johnson suite. It was in this suite, in 1865, that President Johnson conducted official business for six weeks after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It also includes the beautiful Salmon P. Chase suite, the Cash room (site of Grant’s inaugural reception) and the 1864 burglarproof vault. One hour long, guided tours are available by reservations made through your Congressional office. Tours are conducted on Saturday mornings, excluding some holidays, at 9:00 am, 9:45 am, 10:30 am, and 11:15 am.
The Bureau of Engraving & Printing
202-283-2646
Location: 14th & C Sts, SW
Metro stops: Smithsonian
See how United States currency is printed. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-3:30 pm. Closed weekends, Federal holidays and the week between Christmas and New Years Day. Free 40 minute tours run every 15 minutes from 9:00 am-10:45 am and 12:30 pm-2:00 pm. Advanced reservations for large groups are available from 11:00 am-12:15 pm. Free tickets are required for all tours from March through August. The ticket booth opens at 8:00 am and closes when all available tickets have been distributed. In March, tours run every 15 minutes from 9:00 am-10:45 am and 12:30 pm-2:00 pm. April through August, tours run every 15 minutes from 9:00-10:45, 12:30 pm-3:45 pm, and 5:00 pm-7:00 pm with advanced reservations held for large groups between 11:00 am and 12:15 pm.
READY TO BOOK YOUR TOUR? CLICK HERE FOR A TOUR REQUEST FORM.
