Our nation's capital is a wonderful place to visit with your family, school, or friends. As South Dakota's lone U.S. Representative I want to help ensure your visit is as enjoyable and educational as possible. When planning your trip to Washington, the best thing you can do is plan early. For reservations and questions regarding tours, please contact Neha Patel in my office neha.patel@mail.house.gov or by calling (202) 225-2801.
What our office can help with:
South Dakota Sunrise Constituent Coffees
Join Representative Kristi Noem, Senator John Thune, and Senator Mike Rounds for the South Dakota Sunrise Coffee on most Wednesday mornings in Washington, D.C., beginning at 9:00AM. All South Dakotans are welcome! To RSVP, please click here.
Capitol Tours
Tours of the Capitol are available Monday through Friday and leave from our office in the Rayburn House Office building, Suite 2457. If you have made reservations through our office, please arrive no later than 15 minutes before your tour time. Contact our office today to schedule your Capitol tour!
White House Tours
White House Tours asks for all requests to be placed 90 days prior to your preferred tour date. The Secret Service requires all tour groups to fill out a security form, which will be sent to you via email after you make your request. For planning purposes, we recommend allowing 45 minutes at the White House. White House tours fill up very quickly and are extremely limited. *Please note, submitting a tour request is not a guarantee that the White House will grant it.
Pentagon
Our office is able to reserve tickets to tour the Pentagon. The Pentagon requires a two-week notice when requesting tickets. The Pentagon also requires personal information about each individual attending the tour. Contact our office for more information. Tours are available Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 4:30PM.
Library of Congress Tours
We are able to reserve tours for constituents of the Thomas Jefferson Building. The tour is one-hour walking tour of the historic Thomas Jefferson building. You will learn about its symbolic art and architecture of the building along with the historical collections and services our country’s oldest cultural institution provides. Contact our office today or visit the Library of Congress website for more information on public tour times.
Other must-see locations in DC:
National Mall and Memorial Parks
A visit to Washington, D.C., isn’t complete without a view of our National Monuments and Memorials. All memorials are free to visit. The Washington Monument does require tickets to access the top of the Monument; the tickets are free of charge. For more information, please click on any of the items below:
National Archives
Celebrate our nation’s history by reading the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The National Archives allows visitors to see our country’s founding documents along with countless other historical artifacts that celebrate our rich history. The National Archives is open seven days a week from 10:00AM to 5:30PM. Admission is free. For more information, please visit the National Archives website.
United States Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 4:30PM. The Supreme Court offers visitors a variety of educational programs, courtroom lectures, a visitors’ film, and exhibitions.
Museums
There are dozens of museums in the Washington, D.C. area. Below are some favorites of South Dakota visitors. Each museum below is open from 10:00AM to 5:30PM daily.
- National Air and Space Museum (Independence Ave. at 6th St., SW)
- Smithsonian American Art Museum (8th and F Streets, NW)
- National Museum of American History (14th Street and Constitution Ave., NW)
- National Museum of the American Indian (4th St. and Independence Ave., SW)
- National Museum of Natural History (10th St. and Constitution Ave., NW)
- National Museum of African American History (1400 Constitution Ave., NW) Passes required; Click here for more information.
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery allows visitors to honor our country’s heroes with time-honored ceremonies, monuments, and scenic landscapes. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Changing of the Guard and the John F. Kennedy gravesite are all located at Arlington National Cemetery. The Cemetery is open 365 days a year and requires no reservations.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Located in the heart of the nation's capital, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a great place to learn about U.S. paper currency. You can see millions of dollars being printed as you walk along the gallery overlooking the production floor! The free 40-minute experience includes an introductory film and gallery tour of the production process. For more information on times and tickets, please visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing website.
United States Holocaust Museum
The visit will take 1.5-3 hours. Passes are free. The museum’s hours are 10:00AM to 4:30PM. For more information, please click here.