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I hope that the following
information will assist you as you plan your trip to Washington. Please feel free to visit my office during your stay. We are located in room 2204 on the second floor of the Rayburn House Office Building, across the street from the Capitol. The orange and blue lines of the public subway system will bring you to the Capitol South metro stop, located two blocks from the Rayburn Building.
Congressional
tours, including those of the Capitol and White House, can be
arranged through my Washington office. They are available for
a small number of sites for constituents of the 30th Congressional
District on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact my
office at your earliest convenience once you have made plans to
visit Washington. Please visit the Congressional
Tours page for further information.
Websites
There are several Washington websites that offer event calendars and links to local venues. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, held each spring, includes special events that may be of interest to you if your visit coincides with this annual celebration.
Cultural Tourism DC
Washington, DC Convention and Tourism Corporation
National Cherry Blossom Festival
The Washington Post's City Guide
Landmarks
Bureau
of Engraving and Printing
Guided tours of the Bureau are given
from 9:00 am 2:00 pm year-round and also from 5:00 pm
6:45 pm between March and September. Tickets, which are
only required for tours between March and September, are distributed
each morning from a kiosk at the corner of 15th and C Streets,
SW beginning at 8:00 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing tour can also
be requested through my office;
view the Congressional
Tours page.
Capitol
Visitors
may obtain free tickets for tours on a first-come, first-served
basis, beginning at 9:00 am daily, at the Capitol Guide Service
kiosk located near the intersection of First Street, SW, and
Independence Avenue. Recorded information is available at (202)
225-6827. Tickets
for the Capitol tour can also be requested through my office;
view the Capitol Tours
page.
Passes to the House and Senate galleries to observe debate on
the floor of Congress can be obtained from my Washington office
in 2204 Rayburn House Office Building. Children must be at least
six years of age to be admitted to the Senate gallery. In the
House, children under 10 are allowed in the gallery if accompanied
by an adult. Both galleries are open between 9:00 am and 4:30
pm, but may open earlier, depending on when the House and Senate
are in session.
Metro: Capitol South, Blue and Orange Lines
Kennedy Center
Tours of the Kennedy Center are conducted daily, 10 am to 1
pm. Visitors should go to the Tour Desk on Motor Lobby A, where
tours leave approximately every 15 minutes and last about 1
hour. To reserve a tour, call the Kennedy Center at (202) 416-8340.
Tickets for the Kennedy Center tour can also be requested through
my office; view the Congressional
Tours page.
Metro: Foggy
Bottom/GWU, Blue and Orange Lines
More
information »
Library
of Congress
Tours of the Library of Congress are held Monday through Saturday
at 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4:00 pm. Same-day tickets
are required and may be obtained at the information desk of
the Jefferson Building. Participants should enter the building
through the West front door (facing the Capitol). For more information,
contact the Library of Congress at (202) 707-8000. Advance reservations
for tours on Monday through Friday can be made through my office;
view the Congressional
Tours page.
Metro:
Capitol South, Blue and Orange Lines
More information »
State Department
Guided tours of the State Department Reception Rooms are conducted Monday through Friday at 9:30 am, 10:30 am and 2:45 pm. Tours are 45 minutes in duration. Reservations are required and can be requested at http://receptiontours.state.gov. The State Department suggests that tours be made at least 90 days in advance. Strollers are not permitted, and visitors may not bring backpacks or bags. Storage will not be provided.
More information »
Supreme Court
An exhibit and short film can be viewed year-round on the first
floor of the Court building, which is open from 9:00 am to 4:30
pm Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. When the
Court is not in session public lectures are held in the Court
chamber every hour on the half-hour between 9:30 am and 3:30
pm Lectures last approximately 20 minutes, and no reservations
are required. When the Court is in session, oral arguments are
generally heard from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and are open to the
public. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served
basis, so arriving early is recommended. In addition, a limited
number of tours of the Court are available through my office;
view the Congressional
Tours page. For more information and a list of days when
the Court is in session, call (202) 479-3211.
Metro: Capitol South, Blue and Orange Lines
Old
Executive Office Building
All public tours of the Old Executive Office Building have
been suspended until further notice.
More
information »
Treasury
Department
All public tours of the Main Treasury Building have been
suspended until further notice. Please visit the"Virtual
Tour" on-line to view some of the historic spaces and decorative
arts.
More
information »
White
House
Reservations are not required to visit the White House Visitor
Center, located in the Department of Commerce building at the
southeast corner of 15th and E Streets, NW. The Visitor Center
is open to the public, seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. until
4:00 p.m. For more information, call the 24-hour Visitors Office
Information Line at 202-456-7041. Tickets
for the White House tour can also be requested through my office;
view
the Congressional
Tours page.
Metro:
McPherson Square, Blue and Orange Lines
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information »
Memorials
and Monuments
Arlington
National Cemetery
Open daily October through March from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and
April through September from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. Contains the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Amphitheater, the Custis-Lee
Mansion and the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy and William
Howard Taft. The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier occurs every hour on the hour, and also on the half
hour during summer months. For more information call (703) 607-8052.
Metro: Arlington Cemetery, Blue Line
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information »
Jefferson
Memorial
Situated on the South side of the Tidal
Basin, in West Potomac park, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is
one of the cities most picturesque landmarks. Dedicated in 1943,
on the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth, this simple circular
classical white marble monument is in keeping with a style much
favored by the third U.S. president, architect, scholar and
political thinker. At its center, a towering 19-foot bronze
portrait statue (the plaster one, in position until after WWII,
is in the basement, too large to be removed intact) stands on
a 6-foot pedestal. Park
rangers give 15-minute talks several times an hour.
Metro:
Arlington Cemetery, Blue Line
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information »
Korean War Veterans Memorial
The
new Korean War Veterans' Memorial lies in the shadow of the
Lincoln Memorial, near the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial on
the west end of the Mall. It
consists of 19 larger-than-life U.S. ground troopers equipped
for battle moving toward an American flag. Etched into the granite
are photographs of hundreds of faces taken from military archives.
Metro: Arlington
Cemetery, Blue Line
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information »
Lincoln
Memorial
The building (architect: Henry Beacon)
was constructed in the style of a classical greek temple with
36 columns meant to represent the Union at the time of Abraham
Lincoln's death . On
the North wall, the 16th president's second inaugural address;
on the South wall the Gettysburg address. Above the statue the
words: "In this Temple, as in the hearts of the people,
for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is
enshrined forever".
Metro:
Arlington Cemetery, Blue Line
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Located between the Washington Monument
and the Lincoln Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C., the
dramatic and somber Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated
in November 1982. The privately financed monument was officially
accepted by Pres. Ronald Reagan on Nov. 11, 1984, when he signed
a document transferring the memorial to the U.S. Park Service.
The V-shaped memorial consists of two 250-ft walls of polished
black granite sloping to the ground from an apex of 10 feet.
The walls are inscribed with the names of the more than 58,000
U.S. men and women who were killed or missing in the Vietnam
War.
Metro:
Arlington Cemetery, Blue Line
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information »
World War II Memorial
The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. It is located on 17th Street, between Constitution and Independence Avenues, and is flanked by the Washington Monument to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. The memorial is operated by the National Park Service and is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Metro: Smithsonian, Blue and Orange Lines
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Washington Monument
Designed
by Robert Mills (b. Charleston, S.C., Aug. 12, 1781, d. Mar.
3, 1855) in 1838, to follow the form of an Egyptian obelisk,
it rises more than 168 m (550 ft) above the city and is the
largest masonry structure in the world.Mills achieved national
prominence after being appointed (1836) architect and engineer
to the federal government, in which capacity he designed this
monument to the first president of the United States, George
Washington. Tickets are required to enter the monument. Reservations
may be made up to 5 months in advance by calling 1-800-967-2283
between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm, or over the internet at http://reservations.nps.gov.
A service fee is charged for advance reservations. Free, same-day
tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis
beginning at 8:00 am from a kiosk on the Washington Monument
grounds, at 15th Street and Madison Drive. The Park Service
recommends that you arrive early due to demand.
Metro: Smithsonian,
Blue and Orange Lines
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information »
Museums
Holocaust
Museum
Entrance tickets to the Holocaust Museum can be obtained
from the box office on the same day of your visit. For more
information, please call (202) 488-0400. Visually-impaired visitors
may call (202) 488-6100. Visitors who are hearing-impaired may
call (202) 488-0406. Admission is free. Timed tickets are required
to visit the museums permanent exhibition. They can be
obtained at the museums box office on the day of your
visit on a first-come, first-served basis. They can also be
reserved in advance by calling tickets.com at (800) 4009373.
A service fee is charged for advance reservations.
Metro:
Smithsonian, Blue and Orange Lines
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Smithsonian
Institution Museums
The Smithsonian
encompasses a number of fabulous museums around Washington,
including the Natural History Museum, American History Museum,
Postal Museum, and Air and Space Museum. Visit the Smithsonian
website for a full list of museums to visit, along with special
events taking place during your trip to Washington.
Metro: Smithsonian,
Blue and Orange Lines
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For
Children
National
Building Museum
Fun
for both parents and children, the National Building Museum
features special activities for "young builders".
The museum is Americas premier cultural institution dedicated
to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering,
construction, and urban planning.
Metro: Judiciary Square, Red Line
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Discovery
Theater
Each season
more than a dozen productions feature puppets, storytellers,
dancers, actors, musicians, and mimes in performances that present
classic stories for children, folk tales from all over the world,
American history and cultures, and innovative theater techniques.
Located in the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries Building, 900
Jefferson Drive, SW. For
more information, call (202) 357-1500.
Metro: Smithsonian,
Blue and Orange Lines
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information »
Glen
Echo Park
Ride the
antique hand-carved and hand-painted Dentzel carousel, saved
by community effort, enjoy a play for children at Adventure
Theater, and more. 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. For
more information, call (301) 492-6229 or (301) 492-6282 (events
hotline).
More information
»
More
information on Adventure Theater »
ImaginAsia
Family Programs at the Sackler Gallery
Children ages six to fourteen accompanied by an adult use an
activity book to explore an exhibition and create a related
art project to take home. No reservations are required for groups
of less than eight. Visit the website for a monthly listing
of events. For more information, call (202) 357-2700; reservations:
(202) 357-4880, ext. 422.
Metro: Smithsonian,
Blue and Orange Lines
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information »
Other
Attractions
Union Station
For over 90 years, Union Station has welcomed travelers to Washington and remains a functioning train station today. This magnificent building has played host to 17 Presidents and countless foreign dignitaries. However, what may be most impressive is the fact that Union Station's marble floors echo with the footsteps of over 25 million people each year, making it the most visited site in all of Washington, D.C.
Metro: Union Station, Red Line
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Dumbarton
Oaks
Historic nineteenth century house and gardens at the edge of
Georgetown. The garden is open daily from 2 to 6 pm between
March 15 and October 31, and from 2 to 5 pm from November 1
to March 14. The museum is open from 2 to 5 pm from Tuesday
to Sunday. Both the gardens and the museum are closed on national
holidays. Admission is $5.00 during the summer months and free
during the rest of the year. 1703 32nd St, NW. For more information,
call (202) 639-6400.
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Georgetown
Historic neighborhood west of Rock Creek Park. Shopping, boutiques,
restaurants and night clubs.
Mount
Vernon
Eight miles south of Alexandria, Virginia. Home of George Washington.
Open daily from 8 am to 5 pm from April through August; from
9 am to 4 pm from November through February; and from 8 am to
5 pm in March, September and October. General admission is $11.
For more information, call (703)780-2000.
Metro: The
Fairfax Connector shuttle bus leaves from Huntington Station
on the Yellow Line
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National
Zoo
Open every day of the year except December 25. Admission is
free. From April 6 to October 25, the grounds are open from
6 am to 8 pm and the buildings are open from 10 am to 6 pm.
From October 26 to April 5, the grounds are open from 6 am to
6 pm and the buildings are open from 10 am to 4:30 pm. 3001
Connecticut Ave, NW.
Metro:
Woodley Park/Zoo, Red Line
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information »
Tourmobiles
Guided shuttles travel between Capitol Hill and Arlington Cemetery
with stops at many popular tourist attractions including museums
and memorials. Ticket booths are located at Union Station, near
the Washington Monument and at the entrance to Arlington Cemetery.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling (800) 551-SEAT.
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United
States Botanic Garden
Visitors can see the new plant exhibits that include nearly
4,000 living specimens. Additionally, the newly renovated Conservatory
offers a beautiful and fascinating living plant museum. Open
daily 10 am to 5 pm, including Christmas Day. For more information
call (202) 225-8333. Large groups or persons who would like
to reserve a wheelchair should call (202) 226-4082. 1st Street
and Maryland Avenue, SW.
Metro: Federal Center Southwest, Blue and Orange Lines
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United
States National Arboretum
Established
in 1927 by an Act of Congress, the Arboretum is administered
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research
Service. Its mission is to conduct research, provide education,
and conserve and display trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants
to enhance the environment. The Arboretum contains 446 acres
with 9.5 miles of winding roadways. It is located in Northeast
Washington, with entrances on New York Avenue and R Street.
Bus: On weekends
and holidays except December 25, use direct shuttle service
from Union Station by taking the X6 metrobus. The bus operates
every 40 minutes.
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