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Comprehensive Tour informationFind here general information and Metro stops of Washington tourist hot spots, such as the U.S. Capitol, White House, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, and Capitol Children's Museum. United States Capitol 202-224-3121 Location: Located at the center of the city Metro stops: Captiol South or Union Station The Capitol is open to the public for guided tours only - from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Saturday - departing from the South Visitor Receiving Facility, which is located south of the Capitol. Visitors must obtain free tickets for tours on a first-come, first-served basis, at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located along the curving sidewalk southwest of the Capitol (see link below for map). Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. daily. The tour runs every fifteen minutes. The Capitol is open on all federal holidays except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Visitors are welcome to view the floor debates from the galleries by obtaining passes from your Congressman or Senator.
Visiting the Capitol - More information and details about visiting the Capitol
Library of Congress 202-707-5458 Location: Jefferson Building, 1st Street and Independence Ave, SE Metro stops: Capitol South The world’s largest and most open research library, millions of scholars, readers and tourists visit the Library of Congress annually. Our country’s national library contains over 75 million volumes. Tours are conducted Monday through Friday - 10:30 and 11:30am, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30pm - and Saturday - 10:30 and 11:30am, 1:30 and 2:30pm. The Library asks that groups over 10 people make a reservation for a specific tour.
Visiting the Library of Congress - More information and details about tours.
The White House 202-456-7041 Location: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Metro stops: Metro Center or Federal Triangle Tour the home of the President of the United States. The White House has been home to every president except George Washington. Tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and are open to groups of ten or more. Requests for these free, self-guided tours must be submitted to the WIllowbrook Office: (630) 655-2052. They are scheduled on a first-come, first serve basis, usually starting two months in advance of your visit to Washington DC.
Visiting the White House - More information and details about White House tours.
Washington Monument 202-426-6840 Location: On the Mall at 15th Street NW Metro stops: Smithsonian The Washington Monument is the city’s tallest structure, standing at 555’ 5”, a tribute to our nation’s first president. The monument is open daily (except for July 4th and December 25th) from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the final tour departing at 4:45 p.m.
Jefferson Memorial 202-426-6822 Location: South end of the Tidal Basin at 14th Street Metro stops: Smithsonian This monument is in honor of Thomas Jefferson, third president, author of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. You may rent paddleboats at the Swan Boathouse and cruise the Basin. Open twenty-four hours, with Rangers available to answer questions from 8 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Location: Between the Potomac River and the Cherry Tree Walk of the Tidal Basin Metro stop: Smithsonian This memorial is a tribute to both President Roosevelt and the time in which he lived. There is a sequence of four outdoor rooms, each representing on of FDR’s four terms in office. Park ranger talks and tours daily; available upon request. Open 8:00 am - Midnight everyday but Christmas.
Lincoln Memorial 202-426-6895 Location: West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street Metro stops: Foggy Bottom This monument is in honor of Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president, overlooking the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument and the US Capitol. Open 24 hours daily - closed Christmas.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial 202-634-1568 Location: Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Ave NW, on the Mall Metro stops: Foggy Bottom Constructed of black granite to honor all Americans who served in the Vietnam War. In chronological order are over 58,000 names inscribed in the marble wall. Open 24 hours daily - closed Christmas.
National World War II Memorial 1-800-639-4WW2 Location: 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 Metro stops: Smithsonian 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. Open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about visiting the memorial, accessibility, parking, directions, special events and other details, please visit the National Park Service Web site at National Park Service or call the Park Service at (202) 619-7222.
The U.S. Supreme Court 202-479-3030 Location: 1st and East Capitol Streets Metro stops: Capitol South This impressive building of white marble houses the highest court in the land. The building is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, except Federal holidays. Public lectures are available in the Courtroom every hour on the half-hour from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on days that the Court is not sitting. Courtroom seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-seated basis.
Botanic Gardens 202-225-8333 Location: Independence and First St, SW Metro stops: Federal Center SW or Capitol South At the foot of the Capitol, under 29,000 square feet of glass, surrounded by ornamental pools this conservatory has more than 8,000 different types of exotic fruits, flowers and plants.
International Spy Museum 202-393-7798 Location: 800 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 - near the MCI Center. Metro stops: Gallery Place Gain access to the world's largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display. Over 600 pieces are on exhibit. The historic buildings that comprise the International Spy Museum were constructed between 1875 to 1892. For more than a hundred years they housed thousands of tenants, from the American Communist Party offices during World War II. Hours vary throughout the year from 9:00 am - 8:00 pm. For more details on hours of operation and current exhibits, please click on the above link.
National Musuem of the American Indian 202-633-1000 Location: Fourth Street & Independence Ave., S.W. Metro stops:L'Enfant Plaza Opened 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily; closed on Christmas. The National Museum of the American Indian is the sixteenth museum of the Smithsonian Institution. It is the first national museum dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 202-488-0400 Location: just south of Independence Ave SW between 14th St and Raoul Wallenborg Place Metro stops: Smithsonian The Holocaust Museum serves as a national repository for Holocaust related artifacts and materials. Permanent exhibition is recommended for those over the age of 11. Open 7 days a week except on Christmas and Yom Kippur. The permanent exhibition can be viewed from 10 am to 5:20 pm. - passes are required.
Smithsonian Museums 202-357-2700 Location: National Mall Metro stops: Smithsonian As the world’s largest museum complex, it holds over 139 million artifacts of American history; including the Air and Space Museum, Arts and Industries, Museum of Natural History, and Museum of American History. Most museums are open daily, 10am-5:30pm, except Christmas.
National Gallery of Art 202-737-4215 Location: National Mall between 3rd and 7th Sts, NW Metro stops: Smithsonian or Archives The National Gallery of Art is one of the world’s largest marble structures, measuring 780 feet in length and containing more than 500,000 square feet. The National Gallery of Art, located on the National Mall between Third and Seventh Streets at Constitution Avenue, NW, is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.
Ford’s Theater and Lincoln Museum 202-426-6924 Location: 10th Street between E & F Sts Metro stops: Metro Center or Gallery Place or Archives The building is open every day between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm with the exception of Christmas. The Peterson house, where President Lincoln died, is across the street and free tours are available.
Arlington National Cemetery 703-607-8052 Location: Memorial Drive and Hwy 110 Metro stops: Arlington Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is open to the public at 8 a.m. 365 days a year. From April 1 to Sept. 30 the cemetery closes at 7 p.m.; the other six months it closes at 5 p.m. View the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every hour on the hour Oct. 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual. From April 1 through September 30, there are more than double the opportunities to view the change because another change is added on the half hour and the cemetery closing time moves from 5 to 7 p.m. See the Amphitheater, the Custis-Lee Mansion, and the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft.
Washington National Cathedral 202-537-6200 Location: Massachusetts & Wisconsin Ave NW Metro stops: Tenleytown to “30” series Metro bus The National Cathedral is the second-largest Gothic cathedral in the United States. From the Cathedral, you may view the nation’s capital or simply enjoy the peaceful gardens and the beauty of the Cathedral. Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m, and tours are available from 12:45 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Cathedral is open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and on Sundays, from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Tours are also available on the weekend from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and from 12:45 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and on Sunday the afternoon tours end at 3:30 p.m.
Smithsonian National Zoo 202-673-4717 Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave, NW Metro stops: Woodley Park or Cleveland Park Visit the panda exhibit, see the orangutans swing or tour the heritage gardens and wetlands. The National Zoo is open every day of the year except December 25. Grounds are open: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m; Buildings are open: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. April to October: Grounds are open: 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Buildings are open: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The Department of Treasury 202-622-0896 Location: Next to the White House on 15th Street, between F & G Sts, NW Metro stops: Metro Center This tour includes the history of the Treasury Department and the building’s architecture history, including a tour of the Andrew Johnson suite. It was in this suite, in 1865, that President Johnson conducted official business for six weeks after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It also includes the beautiful Salmon P. Chase suite, the Cash room (site of Grant’s inaugural reception) and the 1864 burglarproof vault. Tours are conducted Saturday mornings and last about 90 minutes. All tours of the Main Treasury Building have been suspended until further notice. Please visit our "Virtual Tour" on-line to view some of the historic spaces and decorative arts.
The Bureau of Engraving & Printing 202-283-2646 Location: 14th & C Sts, SW Metro stops: Smithsonian See how United States currency is printed. Tours leave every 15 minutes from 9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Extended summer hours are also offered May through August every 15 minutes from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tickets are required for all tours March through September, on a first-come, first-served basis. The ticket booth is located on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th Street). No tickets are required October through February. If the Department of Homeland Security level is elevated to CODE ORANGE, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is Closed to the public unless otherwise noted. The Bureau is Closed on weekends, federal holidays and the week between Christmas and New Years.
The National Aquarium 202-377-2825 Location: 14th St between Constitution Ave & D St, NW Metro stops: Federal Triangle Open daily: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except on Christmas
The Pentagon 703-695-1776 Location: Across the 14th Street Bridge in Virginia Metro stops: Pentagon Headquarters of the Department of Defense in one of the world’s largest buildings. Open Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Tours of the Pentagon are available to schools, educational organizations and other select groups by reservation only. Groups interested in touring the Pentagon should contact the Pentagon Tour Office at 703-697-1776.
Mount Vernon 703-780-2000 Location: Eight miles south of Old Town Alexandria, located at the large traffic circle at the end of the GW Parkway Metro stops: N/A Home to George Washington's estate and gardens in Alexandria, Virginia. Mount Vernon is open seven days a week, every day of the year, including holidays and Christmas. Mount Vernon welcomes visitors on the following schedule: April through August ~ 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. March, September, and October ~ 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. November through February ~ 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 202-416-8340 Location: Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue, NW, and the Rock Creek Parkway Metro stops: Foggy Bottom Tours of the Kennedy Center are available through the Friends of the Kennedy Center on Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Experience the elegant grandeur of the Kennedy Center’s Opera House and the delicate simplicity of the Terrace Theatre. Included on the tours are the many works of art donated to the Center by foreign countries.
The Octagon House 202-638-3105 Location: 18th & New York Ave, NW Served as James Madison’s White House following the destruction of the real White House by the British in 1814. The Treaty of Ghent was signed here, ending the War of 1812. Tours are available Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is $2 and $1 for students and seniors
The Washington Dolls’ House and Toy Museum 202-244-0024 Location: 5236 44th St, NW Visit this immense collection of antique dolls' houses, dolls, toys and games. Antique dollhouses, dolls, toys and games are displayed.
The Hall of States Building 202-624-5386 Location: 444 North Capitol St, NW Metro stops: Union Station This building is home to many Washington offices of the fifty States, U.S. Territories and associations of state officials.
The Old Post Office – Pavilion Location: 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Metro stops: Federal Triangle or Navy Yard National Park Service offers a tour of the bell tower with a splendid view of the city.
The Textile Museum 202-667-0441 Location: 2320 S Street, NW Metro stops: Dupont Circle Over 11,000 textiles and 1,000 rugs to view Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The museum is closed on all Federal Holidays and December 24.
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