Tour Requests

 

Touring the White House

Due in part to the popularity of our new President and First Family, the White House is receiving an unprecedented number of tour requests. Unfortunately, there is a limited amount of space available for tours, and tour requests are granted on a first-served basis. This means that the earlier you make your plans, the more likely the White House is to approve your request. While there are no guarantees, submitting your request six to eight months in advance will greatly improve the odds, so if you’re thinking about taking a trip to Washington, put in your tour request now.

For more information about White House Tours, please visit the White House Tours & Events page.

Touring the Capitol Building

With the completion of the Capitol Visitor Center, the US Capitol is one of the most tourist-friendly sites in the city. They offer tours throughout the day, led by trained tour guides who will help make the experience memorable.

If you’d like more information about visiting the Capitol Building, the U.S. Capitol Building Visitor Center website is an excellent resource.

Booking tours for the Capitol Building can be easily done online through their website: Book a Tour of the Capitol Building. If you’d like a Gallery Pass, please let us know and we’ll make the appropriate arrangements.

Touring the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress offers award-winning exhibits that combine modern technology with American history to provide a truly unique experience. The Library is one of the world’s largest collections of information and one of America’s oldest federal institutions, and a visit is highly recommended. Reservations are not necessary to visit the Library of Congress, although there is a tour on which constituents can apply for space. In addition to the tours we can reserve for constituents, the Library of Congress offers hour-long docent tours Monday-Friday at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30. Saturday hours are the same, except there is no 3:30 tour. These tours are exactly the same as the reserved tours, and utilizing this option may make it easier to plan your vacation.

If you’d like more information about visiting the Library of Congress, visit them online at The Library of Congress Experience.

Touring the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial office in the United States, acting as the final appellate court for most legal decisions and setting rules and precedents for lower courts to follow. The Supreme Court building is open to visitors from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every weekday, with a public lecture available every hour on the half hour when the Court is not sitting. These lectures do not require reservations; there is a 2:00 p.m. reserved lecture for constituents, but space is extremely limited. When the Court is sitting, visitors can watch oral arguments or the delivery of special orders.

More information about touring the Supreme Court can be found here: Visit the Supreme Court.

Touring the Bureau of Engraving & Printing

The Bureau of Engraving & Printing oversees the production of currency in the United States. When touring the Bureau, you will have the chance to see currency at all stages, from the design element to the finished product, ready to be spent at the gift shop. During the peak season from May to August, tickets are necessary to tour the mint; these tickets can be picked up from the Bureau on the morning of the day you’d like to take a tour. There is also a process by which our office can arrange for a reserved ticket for your tour; these spots are very limited, however, so advanced notice is critical. If you’d like a reserved tour of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, it’s recommended you request a tour 4-6 months in advance of your trip.

For more information about the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, visit The Bureau of Engraving & Printing.

Other Sites of Interest

In addition to these sites, there are many other locations in and around Washington that you can visit, including the Smithsonian Institution, Mt. Vernon, and the National Mall. If you’d like more information about visiting the nation’s Capitol, the Washington, D.C., Visitor Resource Center is an excellent place to start.