Visit DC

Our nation’s capital is a wonderful place to visit, filled with exciting history of the United States.  One of the things that I have the privilege of doing is helping plan trips to Washington D.C. My office can assist in scheduling a personal tour of the U.S. Capitol building, including the House and Senate chambers, where federal laws are made.

We can also arrange tours for some of the city’s most popular historic sites such as the White House, Pentagon, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (the ‘Mint’), and Department of the Treasury. In addition, we are happy to schedule a personal tour of the Capitol building, led by a member of my staff. Please plan to request your tours well in advance, as they do tend to book up quickly. If you are interested in scheduling any of these tours through my office, please fill out our tour request form, and a tour coordinator will be in touch shortly. If any questions or concerns should arise, do not hesitate to contact my office by sending me an e-mail through this site or by calling (202) 224-6244.

Monuments, Memorials, and Points of Interest

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. During the peak visitor season (March through August), tours are offered every 10 to 15 minutes, from 9:00 AM until 7:30 PM. Please call 202-225-6827 for the latest recorded information on visiting the Capitol. Metro: Capitol South or Union Station.

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.

Arlington National Cemetery - Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier occurs every hour on the hour & every half hour during the summer months. Narrated bus tours run one half hour after opening to one half hour before closing. Phone:(703) 692-0931 Metro: Arlington Cemetery.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing - 14th & C Streets, SW. See how US currency is printed. Public tours are provided 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 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.  Adults 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.  Call 707-6400 or visit our web site at www.loc.gov for complete information.

Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Museum - 511 10th Street, NW - 10th Street Between E & F Streets. Telephone: (202) 426-6924. Metro Stop: the closest station to the theatre is Metro Center.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial - 900 Ohio Drive, S.W., near the Jefferson Memorial and the Potomac River. There are park rangers available from 8 a.m. to midnight every day except Christmas Day. There are no fees to visit any of the monuments or memorials in the park. Telephone: (202) 426-6841. Metro stop: Smithsonian Metro stop comes out on the National Mall.

Korean War Veterans Memorial - The memorial is staffed from 8 a.m. to midnight every day except December 25 by park rangers who are available to answer questions and present interpretive themes. A bookstore in the nearby Lincoln Memorial sells informational items relating to both the memorial and the Korean War. The Korean War Veterans Memorial is part of the National Park System, one of more than 360 parks representing our nation's natural and cultural heritage. Address inquiries to: Superintendent, National Capital Parks-Central, 900 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20242.

The Lincoln Memorial - West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street, NW. Telephone: (202) 426-6895. Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom or the Smithsonian Metro stop which comes out on the National Mall.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial - 1964 West Basin Drive, SW, between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. There are park rangers available from 9:30am to 11:30pm every day. There are no fees to visit the memorial. Telephone: 1.888.484.3373.‎ Metro stop: Smithsonian Metro stop comes out on the National Mall.

The National Building Museum - 401 F Street, NW, between 4th and 5th streets. Wheelchair access at 4th and G streets. Telephone: (202) 272-2448. Metro Stop: Judiciary Square.

National Mall and Memorial Parks - The sprawling lands of the National Mall & Memorial Parks include the Mall, the public promenade extending from 3rd Street near the Capitol to 14th Street.

Smithsonian Museums - The entrances to the West Building are located on Constitution Avenue at 6th Street, NW, on Madison Drive at 6th Street, NW, and on 4th Street between Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive, NW. The entrance for the East Building is located on 4th Street between Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive, NW.

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial - South bank of the Tidal Basin - At the Swan Boathouse you can rent a paddle boat to cruise on the Basin. The Smithsonian Metro stop comes out on the National Mall. Phone: (202) 426-6841.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - The Museum is located just south of Independence Ave., SW. between 14th Street and Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th St.). There is an entrance also on 14th street, next to the Bureau of Printing & Engraving. Permanent exhibition is recommended for ages 11 and up. Daniel's Story is recommended for ages 8 and up. The visit will take an 1 1/2 to 3 hours. ONLY the Permanent Exhibition requires a timed entry pass to begin the self-guided tour of the Museum's primary exhibition. Passes are FREE and are NOT required for the Museum's other exhibitions, memorials, resources and facilities. Metro Stop: Smithsonian on the blue or orange lines exit at 12th and Independence Avenue. Telephone: (202) 488-0400.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Henry Bacon Drive & Constitution Avenue, NW. Metro Stop: Smithsonian Metro stop comes out on the National Mall. Telephone: (202) 426-6841.

The Washington Monument - On the Mall at 15th Street, SW. Currently the Washington Monument is closed for repairs due to an earthquake on August 23, 2011.

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.