Visiting Our Nation's Capitol
Let us help plan your visit to Washington, D.C. by requesting a federal tour for you.
The U.S. Capitol
- Senator Lautenberg's staff offers Capitol Building tours every weekday at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. This tour lasts approximately 45 minutes to an hour and, if the Senate is in session, includes gallery passes to watch Senate proceedings.
The White House
- Requests for White House tours must be submitted through Senator Lautenberg’s office at least 4 to 6 months in advance and each tour must include ten or more participants. We are free to solicit other Congressional offices to combine small tour groups in order to reach the minimum 10 requirement. Each tour is self-guided; security agents posted throughout the tour can provide information on each exhibit. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that each request will lead to a tour.
The Mint
- The free, self-guided public tours are available Monday - Friday 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Please be aware that there will be no tours on federal holidays and tours are subject to cancellation in the event of a change in the national security alert status. Visitors will be required to provide a photo ID. For more information, please call (215) 408-0114.
The Supreme Court
- Congressional Tours for the Supreme Court occur weekdays at 2 p.m. Please note that this tour is offered only on days when the Supreme Court is not in session. These tours last approximately 30 minutes. All congressional tours are limited to four people. Public tours are also offered without any need for an appointment. The public tours are a restricted version of a congressional tour – they are shorter in length and limited to an informative lecture occurring in the main chambers of the Court. They occur on the bottom of every hour beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. The Court recommends that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of any tour to ensure a slot in the group, as well as pass through security checks.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- During off-peak tour season (September through April), the Bureau offers two congressional tours at 8:15 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. During the summer, however, congressional tours are extended to the afternoon at 4:00, 4:15, 4:30 and 4:45pm. Congressional tours are limited to 10 people and last approximately 45 minutes. Public tours occur every 15 minutes between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. During the off-peak season, tickets are not required. Peak season public tours require tickets for that same day – the ticket booth is located on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th St, just off from the Washington Monument). The booth opens at 8 a.m.
Library of Congress
- Congressional tours for the Library of Congress occur at 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. only. Public tours take place every weekday at the bottom of the every hour from 10:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. (please note there is no 12:30 p.m. tour). All tours last approximately 45 minutes. The Library recommends that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the beginning of any tour allow for enough time to pass through security.
Kennedy Center
- The Kennedy Center tours occur at 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tours last approximately an hour. The 4:30 p.m. tour concludes near the Millennium Stage – the site of a free performance that occurs weekdays at 6pm. Performances include movie screenings, poetry readings, short plays and other forms of performance art.
National Archives
- Congressional tours are offered at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. They last approximately 90 minutes. The Archives are also open to the public. To see the original copies of the Bill of Rights and Constitution, simply enter the building between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Holocaust Museum
- The Holocaust Museum is open 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. everyday except for Yom Kippur and Christmas day. All exhibitions and memorials are free; however, the permanent exhibition requires a timed entry pass. Timed entry passes can be obtained at tickets.com or by calling (800) 400-9373. Groups of 10 or larger must reserve a group entry time through the museum scheduling office.
To book a tour, please fill out the Tour Request Form and email it to Senator Lautenberg's Tour Coordinator, Joe Wilensky. We will do everything we can to secure the tours you have requested but, due to increased demand at these locations, we cannot guarantee any tour.
Please do not use the Senator's "Contact" page to request tours.
If you have any questions, please contact Joe at (202) 224-3224.
