The FBI tour was the public face of the FBI since 1937 when FBI Headquarters was located in the Department of Justice building. In 1975, the J. Edgar Hoover building was opened to house Headquarters and the tour became a significant component of the new building. Following the events of September 11, 2001, the tour was closed due to security risks, as well as associated costs, and has remained so for nearly 10 years.

In 2008, multiple divisions across the Bureau joined forces to convert the “tour” to create a modern education center to educate new employees and our numerous partners (local, state, tribal, and international law enforcement, federal agencies, Congress and others) with an understanding of the Bureau and its unique national security and law enforcement mission. The new Education Center would give visitors a rare inside look into the FBI’s vital role in protecting the United States and Americans overseas from those who would do us harm.

On August 25, 2014, the FBI launched a partner-public pilot program that opens the FBI Education Center to the public to tell our story through an historical perspective, and outline our many capabilities and future direction. During this pilot program, the public can request a visit to The Education Center by writing and arranging the visit through their respective Congressional office.

The Education Center is open Monday through Thursday during normal business hours.

The FBI requires 3 to 4 weeks advance notice from Congressional offices prior to your visit. The visit itself will take two hours and you should arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled visit.

Education Center Privacy Act Statement: Prior to your visit to the FBI Education Center, the FBI will perform a security check using information such as your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. The FBI is authorized to collect and use that information in order to protect the security of its personnel, facilities, and information systems pursuant to one or more of the following provisions: Title 28, United States Code, section 533; Title 40, United States Code, section 1315; Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, sections 0.75(p) and 0.79, Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, section 102-81, and Department of Justice (DOJ) Order 2600.2D, Security Programs and Responsibilities (June 16, 2011), Your information is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, Title 5, United States Code section 552a, as amended, and is maintained in the FBI’s Security Access Control System (SACS), DOJ/FBI-013, notice of which was published in the Federal Register at 70 Fed. Reg. 7516 (Feb. 14, 2005) and which may be viewed at http://www.justice.gov/opcl/doj-systems-records#FBI. Your information may be disclosed in accordance with the routine uses contained in that notice or as otherwise authorized by law.