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Tours and Tickets

Please note that many of our tour sites have been temporarily suspended due to Coronavirus. To check the status of a tour site, please see below. 

STATUS

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s mission is to develop and produce United States currency notes, trusted worldwide. BEP’s vision is to set the world standard for banknotes and document security through excellence in manufacturing and innovation. The BEP prints billions of dollars, referred to as Federal Reserve notes, each year for delivery to the Federal Reserve System. Further, the BEP’s robust research and development efforts focus on counterfeit deterrent technologies and production process efficiencies.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is currently closed to visitors at this time. https://www.bep.gov/visitor-centers/washington-dc-tour-and-visitor-center

U.S. Supreme Court. 

Established in 1789 by the United States Constitution and the Judiciary Act, the United States 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 Court is charged with ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law, and thereby, also functions as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution. Further, the U.S. Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and such number of Associate Justices as may be fixed by Congress. The current number of Associate Justices is eight. Power to nominate a justice is vested within the Executive Branch by the President of the United States. After the President offers their nomination, the Senate holds hearings for the advice and consent allowing the nomination to take the bench. The current U.S. Supreme Court building was completed in 1935 and is located on One First Street, NE, in Washington DC. It has been the home of the highest court in the land since.

The Supreme Court is not taking visitors at this time. https://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/visiting.aspx

Treasury Building

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s mission is to maintain a strong economy and create economic and job opportunities by promoting the conditions that enable economic growth and stability at home and abroad, strengthen national security by combating threats and protecting the integrity of the financial system, and manage the U.S. Government’s finances and resources effectively. The Treasury Department strives for being a steward of the U.S. economic and financial services, and as an influential participant in the world economy.

Guided tours of the Treasury Department are available only through our office. Please get in touch through our contact center or by calling our DC office at (202) 225-9897. https://www.bep.gov/visitor-centers/washington-dc-tour-and-visitor-center

Pentagon Building

The Pentagon was the brainchild of Army Brig. Gen. Brehon B Sommervell, who, in the early 1940s, pitched it as a temporary solution to the then-War Department’s critical shortage of space as the threat of joining World War II became imminent. After World War II, the building was supposed to be converted into something else, however, they realized that they still needed that much space for what turned into the Department of Defense so they decided for it to remain a permanent structure.

Tours of the headquarters for the Department of Defense last approximately 1 hour and are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m and 1 p.m. Tours can be reserved through the Pentagon Website. Tours are by reservation only and must be scheduled at least three weeks in advance. Earlier reservations are recommended as spots tend to fill up quickly. https://www.defense.gov/Pentagon-Tours/Request-A-Tour/

White House

In 1791, the nation’s first president George Washington decided the location for the White House. The first residents of the iconic presidential home were John Adams and his wife Abigail. During the war of 1812, the British set fire to the building which then did not allow for a president to reside there until 1817 when James Monroe reestablished the White House as the presidential residence. The impressive building is home to 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels of residence. Further, the White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hor d’oeuvres to more than 1,000. Throughout history, the White House has been referred to as “President’s Palace,” the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.” President Theodore Reoosevelt deemed the presidential residence the “White House” in 1901.

White House Tours must be made through our DC office. Tours of the White House are available Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. The tours are self-guided.

White House tours may be submitted up to 3 months in advance, but no later than 3 weeks before the requested tour date. You are encouraged to submit your tour request as early as possible as tours fill up quickly and a limited number of spaces are available. Tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All White House tours are free.https://www.whitehouse.gov/visit/

U.S. Capitol Building

The United States Capitol is a symbol of the American people and their government, the meeting place of the nation’s legislature. It is home to our bicameral congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Not only is it a place of legislation but also houses an important collection of American art, and it is an architectural achievement in its own right. It is a working office building as well as a tourist attraction visited by millions every year.

Tours of the Capitol building are available Monday through Saturday. If your party is 11 or fewer people, your tour will be led by a member of my staff whenever possible. Tours meet in the Capitol Visitor's Center, and include the Capitol Rotunda, National Statuary Hall, the Old Senate Chamber, the Old Supreme Court Chamber and the Crypt. Tours are approximately one hour in length. General admission tickets are free, but you need to book through our DC office. https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit/book-tour-capitol
 

Library of Congress

When it was decided in 1800 that the nation’s capital be moved from Philadelphia to District of Columbia, John Adams approved an act that provided Congress $5,000 worth of books for the use of Congress. This was deemed the beginning of the Library of Congress. Two years later in 1802, Thomas Jefferson approved a legislative compromise that made the job of Librarian of Congress a presidential appointment. This gives the Library of Congress a special relationship with the American Presidency.

The Library of Congress offers timed entry passes for parties of 10 or fewer into the Thomas Jefferson Building. If you have a party of 10 people or more, you need to fill out a form on the Library’s website. The Thomas Jefferson Building is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays. https://www.loc.gov/visit/

 

National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent Federal agency that preserves and shares with the public record that trace the story of our nation, government, and the American people. Their mission is to inspire a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage and encourage citizen engagement in our democracy.

The National Archives Museum in Washington DC is home to the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. These founding documents, along with the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery, the Public Vaults, and the David M. Rubenstein Gallery, and featuring Records of Rights, are open for visitors from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Entry to the National Archives is free. Reservations are not required for individuals or groups wishing to enter the National Archives Museum through the General Public Entrance, but reservations are strongly suggested between March and Labor Day to avoid potentially long lines outside. https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/234645

 

State Department

The birth of the Diplomatic Receptions Room for the State Department was brought into conception by Clem Conger who began building the unparalleled collection of fine and decorative arts. Through showcasing the best of America, and in doing so to provide spaces that facilitate American diplomacy, the Diplomatic Reception Rooms were made into a reality. The Americana Project embodied the grand American art collection and displayed it in such a way to reflect the time of our nation’s founding.

Tours of the State Department include the renowned Diplomatic Reception rooms. Tours are offered Monday through Friday at 9:30am, 10:30am, and 2:45pm and last about 45 minutes. Reservations are required and should be made at least four weeks in advance. Requests for reservations can be made through their website. Please note that children under 12 are not allowed on this Fine Arts tour. https://crmcustomerfeedback.force.com/drrtours/s/schedule-a-tour

Kennedy Center

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed bipartisan legislation creating a National Cultural Center in the nation’s capital. In November of 1962, President and Mrs. Kennedy launched a $30 million fundraising campaign for the Center’s construction. Two months after President Kennedy’s assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson designated that the center be named after the late president in honor of his devotion to the project.

The Kennedy Center is a hub of cultural activity in Washington, DC that features an unparalleled variety of theatrical and musical performances each year. Walk up tours are given from 10am to 5pm Monday through Friday and 10am to 1pm on Weekends. Tours are typically 1 hour in length. For information on performances at the Kennedy Center, please visit their website at https://www.kennedy-center.org/

Ford’s Theatre

During the Civil War, Ford’s Theatre was one of Washington’s top entertainment venues, giving Washington a much needed break from the realities of war. President Mrs. Lincoln were frequent visitors of the Theatre.

The Ford Theatre, the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s historic assassination. While at the historic site, you will have the opportunity to learn about the events of April 14, 1865, and the lasting impact of Lincoln’s assassination on our nation. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. They can be booked on their website. https://www.fords.org/visit/historic-site/

 

Arlington Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery is located across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. at the end of Memorial Avenue, which extends from the Memorial Bridge. The grounds honor those who have served our nation and provide a sense of beauty and peace for our guests. This impressive landscape serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within these hallowed grounds. The Arlington National Cemetery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information you can visit their website. www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Visit   

Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo - shaping the future by preserving heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world. Englishman James Smithsonian funded the Institution in 1846. His wishes were to create an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. There 155.5 million museum objects and specimens, 2.2 million library volumes, and 2,961 scholarly publications.

Public access through this link here https://www.si.edu/