Our nation’s capital is a great place to visit. Not only does it serve as the seat of our government, but it also offers many educational and entertaining activities to visitors of all ages. While most museums, federal facilities and cultural institutions allow you to schedule tours directly, my Washington, D.C. office can help arrange congressional tour reservations for the sites described below. We are also happy to provide you with additional information about other tourist attractions to help you plan your visit. I hope that we can make your visit to the nation’s capital a memorable and rewarding experience.
The U.S. Capitol is an achitecturally impressive monument, a working office building and one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world. The Senate and the House of Representatives have met here for more than two centuries.
The best way to enter the Capitol is through the Capitol Visitor Center, which is the newest addition to the historical complex. The facility is located underground on the east side of the Capitol, on First Street and East Capitol Street NE. The Capitol Visitor Center is a tremendous resource that contains maps and brochures, exhibits and helpful tips for planning your visit.
The Capitol is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Tours of the Capitol are free, but tour passes are required. There are a couple of ways to book a tour of the Capitol:
Visitors are also welcome to visit the galleries of the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers when either body is in session. My office is happy to provide you with required gallery passes.
The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States and is also one of the most famous sights in America.
Tours of the White House are free and self-guided, and are available Tuesday through Saturday mornings. For more information about tours, please visit the White House Visitor Center, which is located at the southeast corner of 15th Street and E Street NW, or call the 24 hour Visitor Center information line at 202-456-7041.
Tour reservations must be made through a Member of Congress. For security purposes, White House tours require additional personal information from constituents and must be booked several months in advance. Constituents are encouraged to submit tour requests as early as possible, as tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and have very limited availability. To request a tour through my office, please click here.
The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, maps and manuscripts in its collection.
The Library offers a variety of public guided tours without reservations, the most popular being a one-hour walking tour of the Thomas Jefferson Building. Private tours for groups with 10 to 60 participants are also available Monday through Friday and can be scheduled through the Library of Congress or my office.
All tours are free and commence in the Thomas Jefferson Building, which is located on First Street SE, between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street. For more information, please contact the Library of Congress Visitor Services Office at 202-707-9779 or vso@loc.gov.
The Supreme Court is the highest tribunal in the nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States. The building serves as both the home to the Court and the manifest symbol of its importance as a coequal, independent branch of government.
Court sessions, which begin the first Monday in October and continue through April, are available to the public on a first come, first serve basis. In addition to attending oral arguments, visitors are encouraged to take advantage of a variety of education programs including courtroom lectures, film screenings and exhibitions. The building is open to visitors 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. To request a reservation for a courtroom lecture at the Supreme Court through my office, please click here.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is responsible for the design, engraving and printing of all U.S. paper currency.
While touring the facility, visitors have the opportunity to see millions of dollars being printed while walking along the gallery overlooking the production floor. Free public tours are available Monday through Friday and the public ticket both opens at 8 a.m. Congressional tours are also available, but must be scheduled through a Member of Congress. For more information, please visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing website. To request a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing through my office, please click here.
