WHITE HOUSE TOURS:
To set up tours of the White House, please contact
Congressman Wilson's Washington
D.C. office by phone
202.225.5705. White House tour requests
must be submitted through your Member of Congress' office and are accepted up
to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available most weeks,
Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. However, the limited slots for tours are scheduled on a first come, first
serve basis approximately one month in advance of the requested date. Though
Congressman Wilson's staff will gladly request White House tours on your
behalf, they cannot guarantee that the request will be granted nor are they are
responsible for cancellations or delays.
CAPITOL TOURS:
Capitol tours are provided by the Capitol Visitor
Center.
LOCATION AND HOURS
The Capitol Visitor Center,
the new main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located below the East Plaza
of the Capitol between Constitution and Independence Avenues.
Visitors: The Visitor Center is open to the public from 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and
Inauguration Day.
Official Business:
Visitors with official business appointments may enter the Visitor Center as early as 7:15 a.m.
GUIDED TOURS OF THE CAPITOL
Guided tours of the Capitol begin at the Orientation
Theaters on the lower level of the Capitol
Visitor Center. "Out of Many, One," a 13-minute film,
illustrates how this country established a new form of government, highlights
the vital role that Congress plays in the daily lives of Americans, and
introduces you to the building that houses the U.S. Congress.
Tours are free, but tour passes are required.
Tour hours: 8:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday - Saturday
Advance Passes: Tours
may be booked in advance online at www.visitthecapitol.gov,
through the office of your Senators or Representative, or through the Office of
Visitor Services by calling (202) 226-8000.
Same-Day Passes: A limited number of passes are available each
day at the tour kiosks on the East and West Fronts of the Capitol or at the
Information Desks in Emancipation Hall on the lower level of the Visitor Center.
WATCHING CONGRESS IN
SESSION
Hours: The Senate and House Galleries are open to
visitors whenever either body is in session.
In addition, the House Gallery is open 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday -
Friday, when the House is not in session.
The Senate and House Gallery "Staging Areas" are located on the upper
level of the Visitor
Center near the
Orientation Theater exits.
Passes: Passes are required to enter either gallery
at any time. Visitors may obtain gallery
passes from the offices of their Senators or Representatives. Gallery passes are available for
international visitors at the House and Senate Appointment Desks on the upper
level.
DINING AND GIFT SHOPS
Restaurant (Lower
Level): Freshly made soups, salads,
specialty entrees, pizza, sandwiches, desserts, and beverages reflect the
diverse bounty of America. Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday - Saturday.
Gift Shops (Upper
Level): A unique selection of
merchandise inspired by the Capitol's art and architectural treasures, fun and
educational gifts, books, jewelry, and exciting custom-designed products make
excellent souvenirs. Hours:
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Saturday.
EXHIBITION HALL
(LOWER LEVEL)
Here you can explore the only exhibition in the country
dedicated to telling the story of Congress and the construction of the U.S.
Capitol. Exhibit highlights include
rarely seen historic documents from the National Archives and the Library of
Congress, artifacts from around the country, and an 11-foot-tall touchable
model of the Capitol dome. You may also
watch the action on the floors of both chambers of Congress at the House and
Senate theaters when Congress is in session.
Numerous interactive stations allow you to discover more about Congress,
its Members, and the Capitol. Hours:
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Saturday.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
ACCESS
Visitors have direct access from the Capitol
Visitor Center
to the historic Thomas
Jefferson Building
of the Library of Congress, one of the nation's great treasures, via the
Library of Congress Tunnel. The entrance
to the tunnel is located on the upper level of the Visitor Center
near the House Appointment Desk.
VISITOR TIPS
All areas of the Visitor
Center are smoke free.
Strollers and Baby Changing:
Strollers are permitted in the Visitor Center
and baby-changing stations are available in each family restroom.
Public Telephones and ATMs:
These are located outside each Gift Shop.
Foreign Languages:
Visitors may request listening devices for foreign-language versions of
the films and the exhibition at the Information Desks.
Visitors with Disabilities:
Visitors may request wheelchairs from Capitol Visitor
Center staff wearing red
vests or at one of the Information Desks in Emancipation Hall. Sign-language interpreting for tours is
available when booked in advance.
Listening devices with audio description of the films and exhibition are
available at the Information Desks. All
films have open captioning.
Service Animals:
Service animals are allowed in the Visitor Center
and the Capitol.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Before entering the Capitol Visitor
Center, all visitors are
screened by a magnetometer and all items that are permitted inside the building
are screened by an x-ray device. The
following items are strictly prohibited:
Any bag larger than 14" wide x 13" high x 4"
deep
Aerosol containers
Any pointed object (i.e., knitting
needles, letter openers, etc. Note: pens and pencils are permitted.)
Cans and bottles
Electric stun guns, martial arts
weapons or devices
Food or beverages of any kind
Guns, replica guns, ammunition,
and fireworks
Knives of any size
Mace and pepper spray
Non-aerosol spray (prescriptions
for medical needs are permitted)
Razors and box cutters
The following are allowed in the Capitol Visitor
Center and the Capitol,
but not in the Senate and House Galleries:
Battery-operated electronic
devices (Medical devices are permitted.)
Cameras
Creams, lotions, or perfumes
Strollers
Video recorders or any type of
recording device
RESPECTING CAPITOL
ART
During your visit, help preserve the Capitol's statues and
other works of art. Enjoy looking at
the, but do not touch them - each touch does some damage.
IN THE EVENT OF AN
EVACUATION AT THE CAPITOL
VISITOR CENTER:
- Proceed
to the nearest exit - exit up stairs
- All
emergency exits at the Visitor
Center are located
on the Upper Level
- Follow
direction of U.S. Capitol Police
- If
assistance is needed, seek U.S. Capitol Police help
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