Visiting D.C.

• The White House (3 Months Notice Required)

  Free, self-guided tours of the White House are offered on a limited basis to members of the public including families, school groups, veterans, and members of the military. The White House is open for tours Tuesday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays.  Please note that start times are determined at the sole discretion of the White House and may occasionally occur outside the hours given above.

  White House tours can be requested no more than 6 months in advance and no later than 3 weeks in advance. In order to maximize the likelihood of securing a tour, we suggest sending us your request at least 3 months in advance.

  Prior to your tour of the White House, you may be interested in visiting the White House Visitor Center to learn about the history of our nation's most important home. The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, between 14th and 15th Streets, NW. The Center is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Admission is free for the general public.

• The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

  Tours of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing allow the general public a rare glimpse of one of the most intriguing processes in American history: the production of money. As you pass through the halls of the Bureau, you'll see millions of dollars worth of currency being printed, and observe the American dollar in every stage of the printing process.

  Free public tours of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are offered to the general public. Tours begin every fifteen minutes between 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. through 2:00 p.m.  During the months of extended summer hours (April-August), tours are offered until 3:45 p.m.

  Tickets are required during peak season (March-August); these tickets can be ordered at the Bureau's ticket booth located at Raoul Wallenberg Place, formerly 15th Street. The ticket booth opens at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, but lines form early and we recommend arriving at the booth no later than 7:00 a.m. All tickets are for same day use. From September through February (non-peak season) no tickets are required for tours of the Bureau.

  School group tours (fifty people maximum per tour) require a reservation and are only offered between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. (every fifteen minutes).   

  You may also reserve a tour of the Bureau through your Congressional or Senate offices. Because of limited availability, please submit your tour request at least two months ahead of time.

• The Capitol Building

  The United States Capitol Building remains the foremost symbol of Washington, D.C., and is one of the most visited sites in the city. Many state capitol buildings were modeled after its innovative design, including the Rhode Island State House. The Capitol also houses an important collection of American art and is an architectural achievement in its own right. It remains a working office building as well as a tourist destination that plays host to millions of visitors each year.

  Tours of the US Capitol are arranged through the new Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). At nearly 580,000 square feet, the CVC is approximately three quarters the size of the Capitol itself. In addition to tours of the Capitol Building itself, the CVC hosts exhibits, food service, two orientation theaters, an auditorium, and gift shops for visitors.

  My office is also happy to schedule you a guided tour of the Capitol Building, Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Please note that preferred start times are available on a first-come, first-served basis so we ask that you request up to three months in advance especially if requesting during peak tour season (April-September).

  
  For further information, including travel advice and restricted items, please consult the CVC's website at http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/.

• The Kennedy Center

  The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts is the nation’s performing arts center and a living tribute to President John F. Kennedy. Visitors to the Kennedy Center may tour the storied 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. Guided tours highlight the historic events that led to the establishment of a national cultural center, as well as an interactive exhibit on the life and presidency of John F. Kennedy.

  Guided tours are given every ten minutes between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the weekend.  No appointment is necessary for groups of twenty or more.  Please call the Kennedy Center Visitor’s Center at (202) 416-8340 to book a private tour.

  The Kennedy Center also offers free performances everyday at 6 p.m. on its Millennium Stage. Tickets are not required, but seating is limited and is done on a first-come, first-served basis.

  You may also book a tour of the Kennedy Center through your Congressman’s or Senator’s offices.

• The Library of Congress

  The Library of Congress is one of the oldest research institutions in the country.  It boasts an impressive collection of books, manuscripts, maps, photographs and other original historical documents. One of the main goals of the library is to make this information readily available both to the general public and to Members of Congress. We urge you to visit the library to learn about the history, architecture, and collections of America’s oldest cultural institution.

  The Library of Congress offers hour-long, fully accessible, docent-led tours of the historic Thomas Jefferson Building.  Please submit your request at least two months in advance for reserved tours which are offered Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., from March through December.  In January and February, reserved tours are only offered at 1:45 p.m.  If none of these times suit your plans, the Library of Congress offers free, unreserved public tours at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Large group tours of 16 people or more (60 people maximum) for schools and other organizations are available as well but must be reserved ahead of time through the Library’s Visitor Office, or through our office.  These tours are offered Monday-Friday at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. 

  For further information, including directions, a list of current exhibits, and general tour questions, please call the Library’s Visitor office at (202) 707-0919 or visit http://www.loc.gov/visit/.

• The Pentagon

  Located in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac from Washington, D.C., the Pentagon is a symbol of the strength of the American defense establishment.  The Pentagon was commissioned in 1941 when the requirements of the Second World War demanded that the Department of Defense rapidly expand.  The facility opened in 1943 and has remained in constant use since, housing the men and women that defend our Republic.

  Tours of the Pentagon are available without charge by reservation only. Tours are available between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Friday.  They are not conducted on weekends or federal holidays. 

  If you wish to schedule a tour directly with the Pentagon please visit http://pentagon.afis.osd.mil.  Please keep in mind that for security reasons, tours cannot be scheduled less than fifteen days in advance.  You may also reserve a tour through your Congressional or Senate office.  Please contact us at lease fifteen days in advance. 

• The United States Supreme Court

  The Supreme Court building is the birthplace of thousands of significant court decisions guiding American legal history. Exhibits and lectures detailing these historic events are offered on a rotating basis throughout the year.  Lectures are typically offered every hour on the half hour when the Court is not in session, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 3:30 p.m.  Courtroom seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-seated basis, although you can contact our office to book spots ahead of time.  We cannot book more than six spots for any given time and we ask that your request be made at least three months before your desired date.

  From October through April, oral arguments can be viewed by the general public when the court is in session. Although arguments do not begin until 10:00 a.m., we advise you arrive as early as 8:00 a.m. in order to secure seats. Please view the Calendar of Oral Arguments for a detailed schedule.

  From mid-May through June, the general public may observe the Court for the release of orders and opinions, a practice which normally lasts around fifteen to twenty minutes.  Although these sessions do not begin until 10:00 a.m., we once again urge you to arrive as early as possible to secure seats.