Tours of Treasury Facilities
My family would like to take
a tour of the Treasury Building. When are
tours conducted?
I want to see how money is
made. Is this the right tour for me?
Are tours available of any
other Treasury facilities?
I will be going to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. What can you tell
me about tours of the United States Mint's
production facility in Philadelphia?
I will be going to Denver,
Colorado. What can you tell me about tours of
the United States Mint's production facility
in Denver?
I want to see the United
States' gold reserves. What can you tell me
about about visiting the United States
Bullion Depository at Fort Knox?
Tours of the Main Treasury Building are available by advanced reservation through your Congressional offices. For more information on tours and reservations, visit the Treasury Curator web site.
Also, please visit our "Virtual
Tour" to view some of the historic spaces and decorative art.
The
Main Treasury Building is the third
oldest building in Washington, and dates from
1836. In 1833, Robert Mills, architect of the
Washington Monument, was commissioned to
design a new Treasury Building after the
previous two Treasury structures were
destroyed by fire. Mills' T-shaped building
is noted for the grand colonnade, sweeping
across the entire expanse of the structure.
Each of the 30 columns is 36 feet tall and
carved from a single block of granite.
Subsequent wings were added from 1855 to
1869, all retaining the Greek Revival
influence of the Mills design.
Through the years, this impressive
structure became increasingly obscured by
neglect and modernization. Realizing its
historical significance, the Treasury
restoration program, which began in 1985 with
private contributions, has returned the
building to its former glory. Thanks to the
dedication and foresight of the people
involved in this restoration, the site of
important historical events in our nation's
history has been preserved for future
generations.
The
offices of Salmon P. Chase, who served as
Secretary
of the Treasury during the Civil War,
along with the suite of offices used by
President Andrew Johnson following Abraham
Lincoln's assassination, now look much as
they did during the mid-1800's. Paint
analysis revealed the original colors of the
rooms, while meticulous research and original
invoices offered valuable clues to the
furnishings and decor.
The striking marble
Cash Room sparkles again today as it did
on the night of Ulysses S. Grant's inaugural
reception in 1869. Also the conserved
portraits of former
Treasury Secretaries peer from their
gilded frames onto the stately corridors
where golden eagles perch regally atop cast
iron columns.
This is only a sample of the history and
stories which fill the halls of this
building. We urge you to come, explore and
learn more about the Treasury Building, a
historical gem in our Nation's capital. You
can find out more about
dates, times and reservations for tours
of the
Main Treasury Building.
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No. Many times when people ask
about tours of the Treasury Department, they
really want to know about the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP).
This is the Treasury division responsible for
the design and manufacture of U.S. currency,
postage stamps, Treasury obligations and
other U.S. securities.
The beginning of the Treasury Department's
responsibility for actually engraving and
printing of United States paper currency
began on August
29, 1861 in the basement of the Main
Treasury Building. This is where two men and
four women separated and sealed by hand $1
and $2 printed by private bank note
companies. The BEP began printing all revenue
stamps in 1894, and by October
1, 1877, it produced all United States
currency. In 1880, an Act of Congress
authorized the construction of the BEP
facility. It was completed in 1914, and the
Annex across the street was completed in
1936. We have a fact sheet on-line that
explains more about tours of the BEP's
Washington D.C. facility.
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Yes. Tours are available of the United
States Mint production facilities in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in
Denver, Colorado. You will find
information about tours of these facilities
shown below.
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The Philadelphia Mint conducts tours Monday
through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. To arrange a tour please
contact your Member of Congress. There is no admission charge. For more
information, please call (215) 408-0112.
This facility manufactures United States
coins for general circulation. It also
produces uncirculated coins, commemorative
coins, national medals, and gold bullion
coins. On the tour, visitors will see
exhibits of coins, medals and old minting
equipment and will learn about the Mint's
history and see the actual coin factory.
The lobby features a round display of all
the commemorative coin designs issued since
1892. The lobby is also filled with on
the walls. Each scene shows how coins were
made in ancient times. Here visitors can also
buy coins, medals and other items, and even
use a medal press to make their own
Philadelphia Mint medal as a souvenir.
The mezzanine level contains the original
coining press used at the first Mint facility
in 1792. There are also Mint artifacts from
the 18th Century to today. Finally, visitors
end their tour in the David Rittenhouse Room
where they can see a brilliant collection of
gold coins.
For further assistance please feel free to visit our website for detailed information on our tours: Philadelphia Mint Information
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Tours are conducted in the between 9 a.m. - 12 noon, Monday
- Friday. To arrange a tour please contact your Member of Congress.
For additional information, please call (303) 405-4765 or (303) 405-4761.
Denver Mint produces United States coins
for circulation. On a daily basis,
approximately 32 million coins of all
denominations are produced. Visitors view
that various steps used in the minting of
United States coins, including stamping
presses which can stamp up to 530 coins per
minute with four dies. The Denver Mint is
one of the three gold depositories in the
United States, along with
Fort Knox and . The tour
includes a display of six gold bars.
Numismatic items and coin sets are available
at the end of the tour. Medals produced by
the United States
Mint, Lithographs, and Mint history are
also for sale and on display.
For further assistance please feel free to visit our website for detailed information on our tours: Denver Mint Information
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Unfortunately, for security
reasons, no tours are permitted at the
Fort Knox Bullion Depository.
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Last Updated:
August 23, 2007
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