Visiting Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. is a great city filled with history and exciting places to see. This page will give you guidance as you plan your trip and information on how my office can assist you.

My office can help you visit the following locations and events:

You may also want to explore the following attractions:

Helpful Maps for Visiting D.C.:

Popular Monuments and Memorials:

Helpful Links:

U.S. Capitol

My office offers tours of the U.S. Capitol guided by a member of my staff. Starting from my office at 1707 Longworth House Office Building, you will see the Rotunda, Statuary Hall, Old Supreme Court Chambers, House gallery and the new Capitol Visitor’s Center. The tour generally lasts an hour and a half, but can take longer depending on security lines. Parking at the Capitol is limited to 2 hour street parking and can be very difficult to find. The Capitol South Metro Station, on the Blue and Orange Lines, is one block away from the Longworth Building.

To arrange a tour, please call my D.C. office at 202-225-5341 at least one-two weeks in advance. Tours fill up fastest in the Spring and Summer.

If you would like tickets to visit the House gallery, you can stop by my D.C. office at 1707 Longworth House Office Building between 9 am and 4 pm to pick them up. The House gallery is open while the House is in session and between 9 am and 4 pm when the House is out of session. If you would like tickets to the Senate gallery, please call my office at 202-225-5341 before you stop by to ensure that we have them available. The Senate gallery is only open when the Senate is in session.

White House

My office can submit a request for a tour of the White House on your behalf. The tour is self-guided and includes the ceremonial rooms in the center of the White House and the East Wing. The tour does not include the West Wing. Tours are offered Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 am – 11 am; Friday, 7:30 am – 12 pm; and Saturday, 7:30 am – 1 pm.

You must request a White House tour at least one month in advance. Because this tour is very popular and the White House schedules on a first-come, first-serve basis, you should request a tour as early as possible, and can request up to six months in advance. December, May, June, July, and August are the most popular times for White House tours, and fill up quickly.

If you are scheduled for a tour, the White House requires security information for you and your guests. You should be prepared to provide the names, social security numbers, and dates of birth, for each person joining you for a tour.

To submit a request, please call my D.C. office at 202-225-5341.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

On a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, you will see millions of dollars being printed for circulation, beginning with large, blank sheets of paper and ending with completed bills. The BEP is responsible for designing, engraving, and printing all paper currency in the U.S.

The Bureau offers tours on weekdays throughout the year. Tours are available year round at 8:15 am and 8:45 am. From May to August, the Bureau offers additional tour slots at 4 pm, 4:15 pm, 4:30 pm, and 4:45 pm. There is a maximum of 10 visitors per group.

To schedule a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, please call my D.C. office at 202-225-5341 at least one month in advance. Please be advised that the summer tours fill up quickly and all tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Treasury Department

The Department of the Treasury is one of the oldest executive agencies, responsible for promoting economic prosperity and ensuring the financial security of the United States. The Treasury Building, located close to the White House, is open for tours on Saturdays, with slots available at 9 am, 9:45 am, 10:30 am, and 11:15 am. There is a maximum of 20 visitors per group. Tours last approximately one hour and include the Salmon P. Chase Suite, the Andrew Johnson Suite, the West dome and lobby, and the Cash Room.

To schedule a tour, please call my D.C. office at 202-225-5341 at least one month in advance. The Treasury Department requires security information for every visitor in order to schedule the tour, so please be ready to provide the name, date of birth, and social security number for each person joining you. Tours are scheduled by the Treasury Department on a first-come, first-serve basis.

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Built in 1971, the Kennedy Center hosts a variety of theater, dance, orchestral, jazz, popular and folk music, and multimedia performances while nurturing young American artists and developing arts education programs. Located on 17 acres overlooking the Potomac River, the Center is one of Washington, D.C.’s premiere arts venues.

Tours of the Kennedy Center are available Monday through Friday at 9:30 am and 4:30 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 am. The tour includes the Hall of States Hall of Nations and five of the Center’s main theaters, including the three grand performance halls. Additionally, free performances are offered at the Millennium Stage every night at 6 pm.

To reserve a tour of the Kennedy Center, please call my D.C. office at 202-225-5341 at least one week in advance and up to 90 days in advance. Tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Pentagon

Built in the early years of World War II, the Pentagon houses the Department of Defense. Approximately 23,000 employees occupy over 3.5 million square feet of office space. The tour details the history of the four branches of the military and includes the September 11th Memorial and the Hall of Heroes. Tours are scheduled every hour on the hour from 9 am to 2 pm.

To schedule a tour, please call my D.C. office at 202-225-5341 at least two weeks in advance. Tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis.  

Marine Corps Summer Parades

Every Friday evening during the Summer, the Marine Corps hosts a parade at the Barracks near Eastern Market in Southeast D.C. The ceremony begins at 8:45 pm with a concert by the United States Marine Band and continues with one hour and fifteen minutes of music and precision marching featuring the “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Marine Corps Color Guard, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, Ceremonial Marchers, and LCpl. Chesty XIII, the official mascot of Marine Barracks Washington.

To reserve tickets, please call my D.C. office at 202-225-5341 two weeks before the parade you would like to attend. You may receive up to 10 tickets, which are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis one week in advance.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is our nation’s highest court, charged with interpreting the law to ensure that it follows the spirit of the Constitution. You can hear arguments in the Courtroom when it is in session, but arrive early as seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. When the Court is not sitting, public lectures are offered in the Courtroom. Admission is free.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am – 4:30 pm (except Federal Holidays). Public lectures are available in the Courtroom every hour on the half hour from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm on the days that the Court is not sitting.

Address: 1 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002

Closest Metro Station: The Court is located between Union Station on the Red Line and Capitol South on the Blue and Orange Lines.

Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian is a research institution and museum complex with a collection including over 136 million items. Over 25 million visitors explore the museums every year. The National Mall is home to the African Art Museum, the Air and Space Museum, the American History Museum, the American Indian Museum, the Freer and Sackler Galleries, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the National History Museum, and the Smithsonian Castle. Also in D.C., you can find the National Portrait Gallery, the American Art Museum, and the Postal Museum. Admission is free.

Hours: Most of the Smithsonian Museums are open between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., but you can find the hours for individual museums here.

Closest Metro Stations: Smithsonian on the Blue and Orange Lines for the museums on the National Mall. Gallery Place/Chinatown on the Red Line for the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum (7th and F Streets exit). Union Station on the Red Line for the Postal Museum.

National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art was created for the people of the United States by a joint resolution of Congress in 1937. There are over 116,000 works of art housed in two buildings and a sculpture garden on the North side of the National Mall. Admission is free.

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm.

Address: Between 3rd and 7th Streets at Constitution Avenue, NW

Closest Metro Stop: Archives/Navy Memorial on the Green and Yellow Lines, Judiciary Square on the Red Line, and Smithsonian on the Blue and Orange Lines.

National Zoo

The National Zoo sits on 163 acres in Rock Creek Park and is home to 2,000 animals of nearly 400 species. Up to 2 million visitors go to the zoo every year. Admission is free.

Hours: April-October, 10 am – 6 pm; November-March, 10 am – 5 pm

Address: 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008

Closest Metro Station: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan on the Red Line or Cleveland Park on the Red Line (the Zoo entrance is between those two stops. It is an uphill walk (1/3 of a mile) from Woodley Park to the Zoo, and a level walk (1/2 of a mile) from Cleveland Park. You can also take the bus from either station.

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and is the research arm of Congress. It is the largest library in the world, with nearly 142 million items. It adds approximately 10,000 items to the collections daily. The Library occupies three buildings on Capitol Hill; the most recognizable is the Jefferson Building, built in 1897. Admission is free and reservations are not required for tours.

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, with tours beginning at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm everyday. There are also tours at 3:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Address: 101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20540

Closest Metro Station: Capitol South on the Blue and Orange Lines

National Archives

The National Archives is displays our nation’s founding documents, including the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. Admission is free.

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm; Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9 am – 9 pm

Address: 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408

Closest Metro Station: Archives/Navy Memorial on the Green and Yellow Lines

Washington Monument

Towering 555 feet over the center of the National Mall, the Washington Monument is one of the most-recognized structures in D.C. and offers an unparalleled view of the city. Admission is free, but requires a ticket. The Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street opens at 8:30 am for same day, timed tickets on a first-come, first serve basis. One person may pick up as many as six tickets and select their preferred time. During the Spring and Summer, the line begins forming as early as 7 am, and tickets run out quickly.

You may also reserve tickets by visiting the National Park Service ticket website or by calling 1-877-444-6777 for individual tickets or 1-877-559-6777 for group reservations. There is a $1.50 service charge per ticket. You can pick up reserved tickets at the Will Call window at the Washington Monument Lodge on the day of your tour. For the Spring and Summer, it is best to reserve tickets months in advance.

Hours: From Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 am – 10 pm (Last tour at 9:45 pm). From Labor Day to Memorial Day, 9 am – 5 pm (Last tour at 4:45 pm)

Closest Metro Station: Smithsonian on the Blue and Orange Lines (exit 12th and Jefferson Street)

Arlington National Cemetery

More than 4 million people visit Arlington National Cemetery every year to pay their respects to the more than 300,000 veterans from all the nation’s wars who are buried there. One of the most-visited sites is the Tomb of the Unknowns, where three unknown servicemen are buried. Other monuments and memorials can be found here.

Hours: April 1st – September 30th, 8 am – 7 pm; October 1st – March 31st, 8 am – 5 pm

Closest Metro Station: Arlington Cemetery on the Blue Line

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The Museum is a living memorial to the Holocaust, dedicated to confronting hatred, preventing genocide, promoting human dignity, and strengthening democracy. Millions of visitors each year experience its moving exhibits. Passes are required to visit the Permanent Exhibition March through August and can be obtained at the Museum on a first-come, first-serve basis on the day of your tour. Admission is free, though passes may be obtained online in advance from tickets.com for a small service charge.

Hours: 10 am – 5:20 pm every day (Except Yom Kippur and Christmas Day)

Address: 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024

Closest Metro Station: Smithsonian on the Blue and Orange Lines (12th Street and Independence Ave exit)

United States Botanic Garden

The U.S. Botanic Garden is run by the Architect of the Capitol and consists of a large Conservatory divided into separate rooms, each simulating a different habitat. Approximately 4,000 plants are on display in both permanent and seasonal exhibits. Check “What’s in Bloom” for up-to-date information for your visit. Admission is free.

Hours: The Conservatory is open 10 am – 5 pm daily; the National Garden is open 10 am – 7 pm daily in the summer and 10 am – 5 pm daily in the Fall and Winter; Bartholdi Park is open dawn to dusk

Address: 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20001

Closest Metro Station: Federal Center SW on the Blue and Orange Lines

The National Arboretum

The National Arboretum is a living museum and agricultural research center located on 446 acres in Northeast D.C. Major garden collections include aquatic plants, the Asian Collection, the Fern Valley Native Plant Collections, the Flowering Tree Collection, the Friendship Garden, the Gotelli Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection, the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, and National Capitol Columns, the National Grove of State Trees, and the National Herb Garden. Check “What’s Blooming” to see what is in season when you visit. Admission is free.

Hours: 8 am – 5 pm every day (except Christmas Day). Some Buildings are closed on Federal Holidays.

Address: 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington D.C. 20002

Closest Metro Station: Stadium Armory on the Blue and Orange Lines. Transfer to the B2 Metrobus to arrive within 4 blocks of the gates. Multiple parking lots are also available.

Cherry Blossom Festival

This annual D.C. event celebrates the blossoming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. More than a million people visit every year to mark the beginning of Spring in the city. The 2010 Cherry Blossom Festival will take place from Saturday, March 27th to Sunday, April 11th.

Closest Metro Station: Smithsonian on the Blue and Orange Lines or L’Enfant Plaza on the Blue, Orange, Yellow, and Green lines (7th Street and Maryland Avenue exit)