Tours and Tickets

• Book using tour request form or by contacting office
•  Open for tours Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Tours last approximately an hour, but guests should allow more time for visiting galleries.
• Other information about tours is available here.

The White House

• Book using tour request form or by contacting our office
• Due to increased security procedures enacted since September 11^th, it can be very difficult to get tickets to tour the White House and slots are extremely limited. Tour requests should be made at least 6-8 weeks in advance and requests are considered on a first come, first serve basis. However, the White House does not inform Congressional offices about the status of tour requests until two or three weeks before the requested tour date. Please note – all tours are subject to cancellation due to occasional security shutdowns.
• You may request tours up to 3 months in advance but no fewer than 4 weeks prior to your visit.
•  Tours are typically hosted on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Library of Congress

• Book using tour request form or by contacting our office
• Public tours are offered Monday-Friday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. for groups of 10 or less; All tour times also available on Saturdays except for the 12:30
• Tours can also be reserved here
• Groups with more than 10 can be booked through our office 
• The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.

Supreme Court - Closed

• Book using tour request form or by contacting our office
• Open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Guided walking tours are not offered, but guests can self-guide through the public portions of the building.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation - Closed 

• Book using tour request form or by contacting our office
• Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
• Must be reserved in advance
• Can be requested up to 5 months in advance but no fewer than 4 weeks prior to your visit

The Department of State - Closed

• Book using tour request form or by contacting our office
• Tours of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms are given at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 2:45 p.m. Monday-Friday
• Must be requested in advance
• Can be requested up to 3 months in advance but no fewer than 4 weeks prior to your visit

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing - Closed

• Book through tour request form or by contacting our office
• Tours are offered at 8:15 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Monday-Friday
• April-August, tours are also offered at 4:00 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

The Pentagon - Closed

• Book through tour request form or by contacting our office
• Tours offered from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fridays
• Reservations may be made 14 to 90 days in advance
  

Museums

Note: Please check individual museum websites or call for more information about holiday closures.

    Smithsonian Museums:

    Air and Space Museum (Link here)

• About: The National Air and Space Museum maintains the world's largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight, as well as related works of art and archival material.
• Address: 655 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560
• Phone: 202-633-2214
• Hours: TBD
• Passes: Free entry
• Best Metro stop: L’Enfant Plaza

    National Museum of African American History and Culture (Link here)

• About: This museum is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans.
• Address: 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560
• Phone: 1-844-750-3012
• Hours: TBD
• Passes: Free, timed-entry passes available here
• Best Metro Stop: Federal Triangle or Smithsonian (Mall exit)

    National Museum of American History (Link here)

• About: This museum explores America’s rich history, ideals, and culture in a variety of exhibits and archives. It is home to more than 1.8 million objects and more than 3 shelf-miles of archives, everything from the original Star-Spangled Banner to Dorothy’s ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz.
• Address: 1300 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560
• Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  
• Passes: Free admission, no tickets required
• Tours: Online audio tours available here
• Best Metro Stop: Federal Triangle or Smithsonian

    National Museum of the American Indian

• About: This museum houses the world’s most expansive collection of Native artifacts including objects, photographs, archives, and media covering the entire Western hemisphere.
• Address: 4th Street & Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20560
• Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission
• Tours: Audio tours available here
• Best Metro Stop: L’Enfant Plaza

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo (Link here)

• About: Founded in 1889, the Zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution. Today, the Zoo sits on 163 acres in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park and is home to 2,700 animals representing more than 390 species.
• Address: 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Phone: 202-633-4888
• Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Passes: Free, timed-entry passes available here

    National Portrait Gallery (Link here)

• About: Founded by Congress in 1962, the National Portrait Gallery houses portraits of men and woman who have made significant contributions to the history, development, and culture of the people of the United States. It includes the “America’s Presidents” exhibition and various other exhibitions displaying historic figures.
• Address: 8^th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
• Phone: 202-633-8300
• Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission; Reserve timed entry passes here; only available online or at 1-800-514-3849, ext. 1
• Best Metro Stop: Gallery Place/Chinatown

    National Postal Museum (Link here)

• About: The National Postal Museum is dedicated to the preservation, study and presentation of postal history and philately.
• Address: 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002
• Phone: 202-633-5555
• Hours: TBD
• Passes: Free entry
• Tours: Tour information available here
• Best Metro Stop: Union Station

    Museum of Natural History (Link here)

• About: The museum’s collections tell the history of the planet and are a record of human interaction with the environment and one another.
• Address: 10^th Street and Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20560
• Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission
• Best Metro Stop: Federal Triangle

    National Museum of African Art (Link here)

• About: The National Museum of African Art captures the beauty of Africa’s rich visual traditions and cultures in displays of sculptures, masks, textiles, furniture, pottery, paintings, and more.
• Address: 950 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20560
• Phone: 202-633-4600
• Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission
• Tours: Docent-led tour information available here
•  Best Metro Stop: Smithsonian

    American Art Museum (Link here)

• About: The nation’s first collection of American art offers an unparalleled record of the American experience, capturing the aspirations, character and imagination of the American people throughout three centuries. The museum is home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections of American art in the world.
• Address: 8^th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC
• Phone: 202-633-7970
• Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission; Timed entry passes available here
• Best Metro Stop: Gallery Place/Chinatown

 Department of the Interior Museum (Link here)

• About: Since 1938, the Interior Museum’s mission has been to inspire and educate Departmental employees—as well as the general public—about the ongoing stewardship of the nation’s public lands, natural resources, and cultural heritage.
• Address: Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building, 1849 C. Street N.W., Washington, DC 20240
• Phone: 202-208-4743
• Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Passes: Admission and tours free
• Best Metro Stop: Farragut West or Farragut North

Ford’s Theatre and Lincoln Museum (Link here)

• About: Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. The wounded, but still breathing president was carried across the street to Petersen's boarding house, where he remained unconscious through the night. On April 15, 1865, President Lincoln died in the Petersen House. Ford's Theatre National Historic Site protects the Theatre and Petersen House, houses a museum about the assassination, and is a working theater.
• Address: 900 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20024
• Phone: 202-426-6924
• Hours: Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Passes: Free, advance timed entry tickets available at box office beginning at 8:30 a.m. or for $3 here
• Best Metro Stop: Metro Center or Gallery Place

National Archives Museum (Link here)

• About: The National Archives Museum houses the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and other archived document exhibits.
• Address: 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20408
• Phone: 202-357-5000
• Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission
• Tours: Reservation and tour information here
•  Best Metro Stop: Archives-Navy Memorial

National Gallery of Art (Link here)

• About: The National Gallery of Art serves as a center of visual art, education, and culture. Our collection of more than 150,000 paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, photographs, prints, and drawings spans the history of Western art.
• Address: 4^th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20565
• Phone: 202-737-4215
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission
• Best Metro Stop: Archives-Navy Memorial or Judiciary Square

National Museum of American Jewish Military History (Link here)

• About: Chartered by an act of Congress in 1958, the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, under the auspices of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., documents and preserves the contributions of Jewish Americans to the peace and freedom of the United States, educates the public concerning the courage, heroism and sacrifices made by Jewish Americans who served in the armed forces, and works to combat anti-Semitism.
• Address: 1811 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Phone: 202-265-6280
• Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, by appointment only for 6 or more people
• Passes: Free admission
• Best Metro Stop: Dupont Circle

National Museum of the US Navy (Link here)

• About: The Navy Museum is located in the former Naval Gun Factory and houses a unique collection of Naval memorabilia.
• Address: Washington Navy Yard, Building 76, 801 Kidder Breese SE, Washington, DC 20374
• Phone: 202-433-4882
• Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission, but call ahead
• Metro: Navy Yard

Textile Museum at George Washington University (Link here)

• About: The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum celebrates the creative achievements of local and global cultures from antiquity through today. The collections include international textile art and artifacts that trace the evolution of Washington, D.C. 
• Address: 701 21^st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052
• Phone: 202-994-5200
• Hours: Monday 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Closed Tuesday; Wednesday and Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Passes: Suggested donation of $8 to support the museum; Free for children
• Tours: Available for free on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. or for groups of 10-40 people by scheduling here
• Best Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom-GWU

The United States Navy Memorial and Visitors Center (Link here)

• About: The United States Navy Memorial Visitor Center tells the story of the American Sailor and honors, recognizes and celebrates the men and women of the Sea Services. Through engaging and interactive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and over 700,000          stories of service, the Visitor Center informs visitors of the rich history and heritage of the United States Navy.
• Address: 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
• Phone: 202-380-0710
• Hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Passes: Free entry
• Best Metro Stop: Archives/Navy Memorial

Monuments and Memorials

The sprawling lands of the National Mall & Memorial Parks include the Mall, the public promenade extending from 3rd Street near the Capitol to the 14th  Street, including the following monuments, which can be viewed on a walking tour (Link here):

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial (Link here)

• About: This presidential memorial is located along the western shore of the Tidal Basin, taking visitors on a walk-through time as FDR's four terms in office.
• Address: 400 West Basin Drive SW, Washington, DC 20002

Thomas Jefferson Memorial (Link here) 

• About: From within the circular colonnade, a 19-foot-tall statue of Thomas Jefferson stands holding the Declaration of Independence and peering out to the Tidal Basin.
• Address: 16 East Basin Drive SW, Washington, DC 20002

Korean War Veterans Memorial (Link here)

• About: The Korean War Memorial’s Wall of Remembrance and 19 stainless steel statues commemorate the sacrifices of the millions of Americans and allied partners who fought during the Korean War.
• Address: 10 Daniel French Drive SW, Washington, DC 20002

Lincoln Memorial (Link here)

• About: The Lincoln Memorial stands at the west end of the National Mall as a neoclassical tribute to the 16th President of the United States.
• Address: 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW Washington, DC 20002

Washington Monument (Link here)

• About: The Washington Monument honors and memorializes George Washington at the center of the nation’s capital.
• Address: 2 15^th Street NW, Washington, DC 20024
• Phone: 202-426-6841
• Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Passes: Advanced ticket registration $1, Same-Day free

MLK Memorial (Link here)

• About: The memorial honors Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy and the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice.
• Address: 1964 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20002

Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Link here)

• About: Honoring the men and women who served in the controversial Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial chronologically lists the names of 58,318 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country. 
• Address: 5 Henry Bacon Drive NW, Washington, DC 20245
  

Other Points of Interest

Arlington National Cemetery (Link here)

• About: The Arlington National Cemetery is the country’s largest military cemetery and serves as the final resting place for more than 400,000 military veterans and their immediate family from the fronts of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as World Wars I and II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, the Cold War and America’s Civil War. Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier occurs every hour on the hour during the winter months and every half hour during the summer months.
• Address: U.S. Army, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211
• Phone: 1-877-907-8585
• Hours: TBD
• Best Metro Stop: Arlington Cemetery Station
•  Passes: Free admission, no tickets required

Congressional Cemetery (Link here)

• About: Congressional Cemetery is a 35-acre historic yet active burial ground located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
• Address: 1801 E Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
• Phone: 202-543-0539
• Hours: Daily, Dawn-Dusk
• Passes: Free, open to the public
• Tours: Information available here

Folger Shakespeare Library (Link here)

• About: Folger Shakespeare Library is the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. 
• Address: 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
• Phone: 202-544-4600
• Hours: Currently closed for building renovations

Frederick Douglass National Historical Site (Link here)

• About: The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site preserves and interprets Cedar Hill, where Frederick Douglass lived from 1877 until his death in 1895.
• Address: 1411 W Street SE, Washington DC 20020
• Phone: 202-426-5961
• Hours: Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission
• Tours: Must be on a guided tour to get inside Frederick Douglass’ house. Information here.
• Best Metro Stop: Anacostia Station

Mount Vernon Estate and Garden  (Link here)

• About: Mount Vernon is the historic home of America's first president, George Washington, just a short drive from Washington, DC in northern Virginia.
• Address: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121
• Phone: 1-800-429-1520
• Hours: April-October, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; November-March, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Passes: Visit website
• Best Metro Stop: Not accessible by metro

Old Post Office Pavilion (Link here)

• About: This former post office offers shops, restaurants, and a dramatic view of DC from a 315-foot tower.
• Address: 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004
• Phone: 202-289-4224
• Hours: Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Passes: Free
• Tours: Given daily
• Metro: Federal Triangle

Old Stone House (Link here)

• About: The Old Stone House is the oldest structure on its original foundation in Washington, D.C.
• Address: 3051 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
• Phone: 202-426-6851
• Hours: Daily, 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission
• Tours: Tours offered Wednesday-Sunday; Noon-5 p.m.
• Best Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom

United States Botanic Garden (Link here)

• About: This living museum houses permanent collections of tropical, subtropical, and desert plants.
• Address: 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20001
• Phone:
• Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Passes: Free admission
• Best Metro Stop: Federal Center SW

Day Trips to Surrounding Area

 Annapolis, Maryland - Sailing Capital (Link here)

• About: Annapolis, Maryland is home to the US Naval Academy and brings rich military traditions. It is also known as America’s Sailing Capital and features fine historic inns, restaurants, and other points of interest.
  

 United States Naval Academy (Link Here)

• About: Tour the United States Naval Academy, the undergraduate college of our country’s naval service.
• Address: Visitor Center located on the grounds of the Naval Academy
• Phone: 410-293-8687
• Passes: Prices Vary; see link

Baltimore, Maryland - Charm City (Link Here)

• About: Baltimore, known as the Charm City, offers lively culture and points of interest for visitors to experience from museums and monuments to great food and shopping.

 Ocean City, Maryland (Link Here)

• About: Located 136 miles southeast of Washington, Ocean City offers beautiful beaches and family activities.

Williamsburg, Virginia (Link Here)

• About: Located about 150 miles southeast of Washington, Williamsburg, a popular vacation destination, offers a taste of colonial times and a host of opportunities for family fun and great food.

Colonial Williamsburg (Link Here)

• About: Colonial Williamsburg offers visitors an opportunity to experience colonial America in over 500 reconstructed buildings.
• Address: 101 Visitor Center Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185
• Phone: 888-965-7254
• Hours: Vary by season; See link

Monticello - The Home of Thomas Jefferson (Link Here)

• About: Located just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, Monticello was the plantation home of Thomas Jefferson.
• Address: 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, VA 22902
• Phone: 434-984-9822
• Hours: The park operates on seasonal hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., March through October, and 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. from November through February. Admission prices vary by age and season. See website for up-to-date information.
• Tickets: (Ticket Link)