Tours and Tickets

Tours and Tickets

Thank you for contacting my office regarding a tour request. My staff and I would be more than happy to assist you on your trip to our nation’s capital. Here is information on the tours that are offered in Washington, DC. If you are interested in a tour that requires a congressional reservation or have any questions about the tours offered, please contact our Tour Coordinator, Mark McDonald at 202-225-4276 or at mark.mcdonald@mail.house.gov

 

Washington Monument 

The Washington Monument has officially reopened after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook Washington, D.C. causing serious damage to the monument over three years ago. 

Tours of the Monument are opened year-round, seven days per week from 9am – 5pm. Same-day, free tickets are given on a first-come first-serve basis every morning starting at 8:30am at the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street NW between Constitution and Independence Ave. Reservations can also be made online for only $1.50 per ticket at: http://www.recreation.gov/tourParkDetail.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=77811

 

White House tour

Tour Summary: The White House is a self-guided tour.  Tour includes visits to the State Dining Room, the Red Room, the Blue Room, the Green Room, and the East Room.

Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

To Schedule a tour please call: (202) 225-4276

Closest Metro Stops: Federal Triangle (Blue and Orange Lines), Metro Center (Red, Orange, and Blue Lines), and McPherson Square (Blue and Orange Lines)

Tour Length: 30 – 45minutes, Self-Guided

Availability: The White House schedules tours on a first-come, first-serve basis, Tuesday through Thursday from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM, Friday from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM and Saturday from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM.  The White House requests must be made 90 days in advance.   If your request is accepted, we generally receive final notice regarding your tour one week in advance of your requested dates.

Please note:  The White House Visitor Center schedules all tours and times, we can only request the day.

Procedure: Before each tour request is processed, group size and dates must be submitted to my office at the time of request. Security information (including the full name, social security number, and date of birth for each member for the group) must be submitted using a secure link provided by our office.

When Scheduling a White House tour please provide the following information

-          Group Name (point of contacts first and last name)

-          Email address

-          Phone Number

-          Number of individuals in the group

-          Dates (you can list up to three dates to visit the White House)

If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to call my office at (202) 225-4276

 

Capitol Tour

Tour Summary: The United States Capitol in Washington, DC is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. The tour includes visits to the Crypt, the Old Supreme Court Chamber, the Rotunda, the Old Senate Chamber, Statuary Hall, and House Gallery.

Closest Metro Stop: Capitol South (Blue and Orange Lines)

Tour Length: 1 ½ hour – 2 hours depending on crowds.

Website: http://cvc.aoc.gov/

Congressional Reserved Tours (reserved through my office):

  • Private-staff led tour requests are conducted from 10:00am – 3:00pm Monday – Friday.
  • Requests are taken at least one-week prior
  • You can schedule a staff let tour through my office by calling (202) 225-4276

Public Tours:

  • 9:00am – 3:00pm Monday – Saturday
  • Visitors must obtain free tickets at the Capitol Visitor Center where they are distributed on a first-come first-serve basis.
  • Please contact my office to reserve tickets for the public tours

 

When scheduling a Capitol tour please provide

·         Name (first and last)

·         Number of people

·         Desired time of tour

·         Desired date

·         Phone number

·         Email address

 

Bureau of Printing and Engraving Tour

Tour Summary: The Bureau is responsible for the printing and designing the nation’s currency, US postal stamps, official invitations, and ID cards. The tour features various steps of Currency production, beginning with large, blank sheets of paper, and ending with wallet-ready bills.

Address: 14th and C Streets, SW Washington, DC 20228

Phone Number: (202) 874-2330

Closest Metro Stop: Smithsonian (Blue and Orange lines)

Tour Length: One hour

Website: www.moneyfactory.gov

 Congressional Reserved Tours:

  • September through April – 8:15am and 8:45am Monday through Friday
  • April through August: 8:15am, 8:45am, 4:00pm. 4:15pm, 4:30pm, and 4:45pm

Tour Request Deadline: At least 3 weeks before the desired tour date. Tours may be requested up to 6 months in advance and are based on a first-come first-serve basis. If interested, please contact Mark McDonald at 202-225-4276 or at Mark.McDonald@mail.house.gov

When Scheduling Please Provide:

·         Name (first and last)

·         Number of people (may not exceed more than10 people)

·         Desired time of tour

·         Desired date

·         Phone number

·         Email address

Public Tours:

  • March through August: 9:00am – 10:45 am and 12:30pm – 2:00pm.
  • May –August: additional tours are available from 5:00pm – 7:00pm
  • Tickets are required for public tours that are conducted between March 3 and August 29 and are based on first-come first-serve. The ticket booth is located on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th Street). The ticket booth opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes when all tickets have been distributed. After 1:00 p.m., if there are any tickets remaining, they can be picked up at the tour entrance located at 14th and C Streets, S.W. Please try to arrive early as tickets go quickly.

 

Supreme Court

Summary: There is no guided tour available to the public. The Supreme Court is open to the public during normal business hours 9:00am to 4:00pm visitors are encouraged to explore the Supreme Court on their own. However the court provides courtroom lectures which feature the functions of the Supreme Court and the architecture of the Supreme Court Building. Guests may also visit exhibits and the theater

Address: 1st Street and Maryland Ave., NE

Phone Number: (202) 479-3211

Closest Metro Stop: Capitol South (Blue and Orange Lines) Union Station (Red Line)

Lecture Length: 30- minutes

Note: The Court is opened Monday – Friday. Photo ID is required for admittance

Website: http://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/visitorservices.aspx

Congressional Reservations (requested and scheduled through my office):

  • Lecture groups may not exceed 6 people
  • Reserved lectures occur between 9:30am and 3:30pm and occur every half hour when the court is not in session
  • Requests must be made at least one month prior to the date desired. lectures are based on first-come first-serve basis

To Schedule a Courtroom lecture Please call my office at (202) 225-4276

 

Library of Congress Tour

Tour Summary: The Library is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is the largest library in the world, with nearly 128 million items. The tour focuses on the history, art, and architecture of the Jefferson Building of the Library.

Address: 101 Independence Avenue, SE

Phone Number: (202) 707-9779

Closest Metro Stop: Capitol South (Blue and Orange Lines) and Union Station (Red Line)

Tour Length: One hour

Restrictions: Tours may not exceed 16 people

Website: www.loc.gov/visit

Congressional Reservations (made through my office)

  • Reserved Tours are conducted: 8:30am, 1:45pm, and 3:45pm Monday – Friday
  • Tours are based on first-come first-serve basis so, it is recommended that you submit the request at least one month in advance
  • To Schedule a tour through my office please call (202) 225-4276
  • Please Provide when calling to schedule  

o    Name (First and Last)

o    Number of People(10 or less )

o    Names of group members

 

Public Tours:

  • Are conducted Monday – Friday 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm, and Saturday (there is no 3:30pm tour)

 

 

Kennedy Center Tours

Tour Summary: The tour features the Hall of States and Hall of Nations, the Center’s main theaters and dozens of paintings, sculptures, and other artwork given to the Center by foreign countries. You will also visit the four major theaters, the Grand Foyer, the Presidential Box, the Golden Circle Lounge, and the Roof Terrace.

Address: 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566

Phone Number: (202) 416-8340

To purchase tickets for a performance please call: (202) 416-8340

Closest Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom/George Washington University (Blue and Orange Lines)

Tour Length: One Hour

Note: Free performances take place on the Millennium Stage at 6:00pm 365 days a year. The Kennedy Center also offers free tours of the building given in several languages upon request.

Website: www.kennedy-center.org/visitor

Congressional Reservations (made through my office)

  • Reserved Tours are conducted9:30am and 4:30pm Monday – Friday. 9:30 am Saturday and Sunday
  • Tour requests must be submitted at least on week prior to the date requested
  • To schedule a tour please call my office at (202) 225-4276
  • When calling to schedule please provide

o    Name

o    Number of people

o    Phone number

o    Email address

Public Tours

  • Public Tours are conducted from 10:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday. 10:00am – 1:00pm Saturday and Sunday. The Center is closed only on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

 

State Department Tours

Tour Summary: The Diplomatic Reception Rooms tour includes the Entrance Hall, Transition Room, Gallery, Thomas Jefferson State Reception Room and the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room. In addition to their diplomatic function, these rooms house a premier collection of early American paintings, furniture, and decorative arts.

Address: 2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520

Phone Number: (202) 647-3241

Closest Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom/George Washington University (Blue and Orange Lines)

Tour Length: 45 minutes

Congressional Reservations (made through my office)

  • Reserved Tours are conducted 9:30am, 10:30am, and 2:45pm Monday through Friday
  • Requests must be submitted at least 90 days in advance
  • To Schedule a tour please call my office at (202) 225-4276
  • When Scheduling please provide

o    Name (First and last)

o    Number of people

o    Phone number

o    Email address

 

Public Tours:

  • Public Tours are conducted: 9:30am, 10:30am, and 2:45pm Monday through Friday
  • Reservations for public tours may be requested by visiting the Department of State website www.state.gov. You will receive an email notifying you that your request was received by the tour office and is pending approval. 

 

Department of the Treasury Tours

Tour Summary: The tour focuses on the history of the Treasury and the architectural history of the building, highlighting restored spaces, including the Salmon Chase and Andrew Johnson suites, the West wing, gilded monumental dome and lobby, and the Cash room, which was the scene of Ulysses S. Grant’s inaugural reception.

Address: 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Closest Metro Stop: Metro Center and McPherson Square

Availability: 9:00, 9:45, 10:30 and 11:15 am on Saturdays only

Tour Request Deadline: at least 2 weeks before the desired date.

Procedures: In order to submit a tour request my office will need the birth date, social security number, and full name of everyone in the tour group.

Tour Length: One hour

Note: Strollers and backpacks are not permitted in the building and there is no storage area onsite.  It is suggested they be left in the car or hotel room.  Additionally, photography (still or video) is not permitted in the building.

Website: http://www.treasury.gov/about/education/Pages/tours.aspx