The United States Capitol Building
The Capitol Visitor Center conducts tours of the Capitol Monday through Saturday from 8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. The public is able to make tour reservations ahead of time by going to www.visitthecapitol.gov.
Metro: Capitol South (Orange/Blue Lines)
The White House
The official residence and workplace of the President of the United States.
Public tour requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted). Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Requests can be submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance.
Metro: Federal Triangle (Orange/Blue Lines), Metro Center (Orange/Blue/Red Lines), and McPherson Square (Orange/Blue Lines)
The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest repository of knowledge and creativity, with a growing collection of more than 150 million items, including books, print materials, sound recordings, photographs, maps, sheet music, motion pictures, and manuscripts.
Located at 10 First Street SE, 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.
There are guided hour-long tours daily, Monday through Saturday. All tours start in the Visitors’ Center in the Jefferson Building.
Metro: Capitol South (Orange/Blue Lines)
The National Archives
Home to the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
Open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week. Visitors may wait in line for entry or can make reservations in advance.
Metro: Archives-Navy Memorial (Yellow/Green Lines)
The Supreme Court
Open Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Although the Supreme Court does not offer guided walking tours, visitors are encouraged to tour the building on their own and take advantage of a variety of educational programs including courtroom lectures, a visitors’ film, and court-related exhibitions. Court sessions are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
Metro: Capitol South (Orange/Blue Lines)
The Smithsonian Institution - The museums are open daily, except Christmas, from 10:00am to 5:30pm (Air & Space 10:00am to 7:30pm and Anacostia Museum which closes at 5 p.m.). Extended Summer hours are determined annually. Smithsonian Information Center: 202/357-2700 (voice) 202/357-2729 (TTY). Metro: Smithsonian or L'Enfant Plaza. Arlington National Cemetery - Open daily October through March from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm, & April through September from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00pm, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Amphitheater, the Custis-Lee Mansion & the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy & William Howard Taft. 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: Adults $4.75 Children $2.25 (the buses run one half hour after opening to one half hour before closing) -(703) 692-0931 Metro: Arlington Cemetery
The Pentagon
Offers free tours available by reservation only. Tours are conducted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To make a reservation please visit the Pentagon's tour page here.
Metro: Pentagon (Blue/Yellow Lines)
Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens - Home of George Washington. Mount Vernon is open seven days a week, every day of the year, including holidays and Christmas.
Schedule:
April through August from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
March, September, October from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
November through February from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
General Admission
Adults - $ 13.00
Senior Citizens, age 62 and above (with identification) - $12.00
Children age 6 through 11 (accompanied by an adult) - $6.00
Children age 5 and under FREE (accompanied by an adult)
Annual Pass (unlimited admission for one year) - $18.00
Group rates are available. Telephone: (703) 780-2000. Metro stop: Take Metro's Yellow Line Train to Huntington Station in Virginia. Exit to the lower level (Huntington Avenue) of the station to catch a Fairfax Connector bus to Mount Vernon.
The Washington Monument - On the Mall at 15th Street, SW. Open 9 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Tickets are required. They are free and available at the booth located on the west side of 15th Street, NW, on the Mall. Advance tickets (small fee charged) can be obtained through Ticketmaster (DC Metro) 202-432-7328 (Outside DC) 1-800-551-7328, and through the National Park Service website: www.nps.gov. Facilities: Bookstore, Restrooms, Museum. Information: 202-426-6841. Metro stop: Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Lines).
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial - South bank of the Tidal Basin - open to the public 24 hours a day. Rangers are on duty to answer question daily from 9:30am until 11:30 pm. The memorial is free to the public. At the Swan Boathouse you can rent a paddleboat to cruise on the Tidal Basin. Metro Stop: Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Lines).
Korean War Veterans Memorial - The memorial is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 11:45 every day except December 25. 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.
The Lincoln Memorial - West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street, NW. The public may visit the Lincoln Memorial 24 hours a day. However Rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 am to 11:30 pm daily. Telephone: (202) 426-6895. Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom (Blue/Orange Lines).
The United States Navy Memorial - Located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 123, Washington, D.C, 20004-2608. The D.C. Metro's Green and Yellow Line stops at Archives-Navy Memorial, steps from our front door. There is a Motor Coach Drop on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between 7th and 9th Streets, in front of the U.S. Navy Memorial.
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 Information. Self-guided audio tours available for $5.00. Metro Stop: Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Lines).
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Henry Bacon Drive & Constitution Avenue, NW. Open daily from 8 a.m. until 11:45 p.m. A ranger station is open during these hours to assist visitors in locating names on the memorial. There are no fees to visit any of the monuments or memorials on the National Mall. Metro Stop: Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Lines).
The Corcoran Gallery of Art Museum - 17th Street and New York Avenue, NW - one block west and south of the White House. The main entrance is on 17th Street. General Info: (202) 639-1700. Group Tours for groups of (15) or more: (202) 639-1730. Hours of operation: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; and 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday. Admission is $6.00 per person, for all people over the age of six.
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.). It is open daily 10 am to 5:30 pm and closed on Yom Kippur and Christmas Day. Permanent exhibition is recommended for ages 11 and up. Daniel's Story is recommended for ages 8 and up. The visit will take from 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 National Building Museum - 401 F Street, NW, between 4th and 5th streets. Wheelchair access at 4th and G streets. Museum Hours: Monday - Saturday 11:00am - 5:00pm, Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Metro Stop: Judiciary Square - Red line. Telephone: (202) 272-2448.
The United States Botanic Gardens - 100 Maryland Avenue, SW. Open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Group tours are available by request at (202) 225-8333. Metro Stop: Federal Center South West (Blue/Orange Lines).
Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Mint): - 14th and C Streets, SW. See how US currency is printed. Entrance off of 14th Street at the Visitor's Office. Public tours are offered 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Please arrive by 8:00am for morning tours and 3:30pm for afternoon tours. A limited number of tickets are available. Congressional reservations can be made. Closed weekends, federal holidays, and December 24 through January 3. Re-opens January 4 with regular hours. Metro Stop: Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Lines).
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. Sunday Services are at 8:30am, 10:00am, and 11:00am.
The National Geographic Society - 1145 17th & M Street. Exhibits of famous scientific expeditions. Phone: 800 NGS LINE (800 647 5463); 800 548 9797 (TDD) .
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 International Spy Museum - Located at 800 F Street, NW, in the Historic Penn Quarter Arts and Entertainment District. They are opened every day except Christmas Day from 10:00 am - 8:00pm with early morning hours available for Groups. Their is a cost for tickets and please call for information at 202/207-0220. Metro- stops Gallery Place/Chinatown and National Archives/Navy Memorial stations.
The Newseum - An interactive museum of news with behind-the-scenes view of how and why news is made. Hands-on exhibits trace five centuries of new gathering.
Please contact the Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-3761 with any further questions.
