Visiting D.c.
The Washington, D.C., area has many historical and cultural sites that explore our nation's history and rich traditions. Please see the documents below for more tips and information.
My office can assist with scheduling tours for the White House, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the U.S. Treasury Department.
Please fill out the Tour Request Form to request a tour for the dates you wish to visit. Please also note that some tours require a request with at least three-months’ notice.
I have provided a comprehensive Tour Attractions Document that can help you decide what to see and what places to visit during your trip.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C 20535
Limited tours available, tours must be arranged through my office. Please contact my office at least one month in advance to request a tour.
Home of America's premier law enforcement agency, the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover Building is open to the public through the FBI Experience. Learn the methods real FBI agents use to solve crimes, to find hidden cameras in a hotel room, to analyze fingerprints and to crack the codes criminals and spies use. You can also see the firing range where agents practice their trigger discipline. You can explore the gallery containing artifacts from the 9/11 terrorist attack and the investigation that followed, as well as honor those men and women who have lost their lives in service to their nation.
Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C.
Hours and Admission
10 AM to 5 PM Tuesday-SaturdayLast visitor entry is at 4:30 PM.No admission charged.Only the Thomas Jefferson Building is open to visitors. It is closed on Sundays, Mondays and on select federal holidays.
Home of the Congressional Archives, the Library of Congress consists of three buildings: the Adams, the Thomas Jefferson and the James Madison.
The Jefferson Building is named after the 3rd President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, who, in 1814, sold his personal library of 6,487 books to the LOC to rebuild the library’s collection that was destroyed when British troops burned the Capitol during the War of 1812. The LOC is the most ornate of the buildings and is home to the spectacular Reading Room. The lobby on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the is remarkable; the Great Hall is constructed of white Italian marble, with a stucco ceiling accented with a twenty-three-karat gold leaf. An exploration of this building won't leave you disappointed!
Visit the Library of Congress’ visitors’ page to see further information on group reservations, rules regarding photography, and other pre-visit essentials.
U.S. Capitol
(202) 226-8000 - Automated visitors' information line
Hours and Admission
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday-Saturday (including most federal holidays)
No admission charged
My office offers staff-guided tours at 10 AM and 2 PM every weekday, though we are more than happy to adjust those times to your schedule. It is preferred that the office receives 7 days’ advanced notice, we are also able to reserve passes on Saturdays. The U.S. Capitol Guide Service also offers tours.
You can book a tour online at Visit The Capitol or you can pick up same-day tickets in the Capitol Visitors Center. Tours operate 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Monday through Saturday, save on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Please be aware of security guidelines and prohibited items in the U.S. Capitol.
In advance of a Capitol tour, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society's website offers a wealth of information about the Capitol's art and exhibits such as the National Statuary Hall Collection, murals within the Capitol corridors painted by Allyn Cox, and the large 12' x 18' paintings within the Rotunda to complement your tour.
Another resource with information about the architecture, art and grounds of the U.S. Capitol is the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) website. The AOC is the steward responsible for the maintenance, operation, and preservation of many of our nation’s most recognizable landmarks of democracy and government including the U.S. Capitol and its grounds, the U.S. Supreme Court, Library of Congress and the U.S. Botanic Gardens.
U.S. Supreme Court
1 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C.
Hours and AdmissionMonday to Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM. It is closed on weekends and all federal holidays. Admission is free. This is subject to change due to changes in the judiciary’s schedule, which can be seen day to day on the Supreme Court’s homepage.
The cornerstone of the U.S. Supreme Court building was laid in 1932, and the building was completed in 1935. It was the first time in our country’s history that the nation’s highest court had its own building. It is worth noting that the construction was done for less than what Congress funded, so money was returned to the Treasury. Initially, the Court met in the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City, and later in Chambers located in the U.S. Capitol. The Court is in session October-April. Courtroom seats are available on a first-come first-served basis.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.
The White House Visitors Office 24-Hour Hotline at (202) 208-1631
Due to events surrounding America’s 250th anniversary and ongoing construction projects at the White House, public tours have been suspended until further notice. Once tours resume, information on the schedule can be found on this webpage. In the past, public tours were typically available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 7:30 AM and 11:30 AM and Friday and Saturday between 7:30 AM and 1:30 PM, excluding federal holidays and any scheduling conflicts that may result in alteration or a cancellation.
In lieu of touring the White House, we recommend a visit to the White House Visitors Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (between 14th and 15th Streets, NW, on Pennsylvania), where you can view many artifacts from the White House Collection along with photographs and models of the White House. The White House Visitor Center is fully accessible. There is no admission charged.
Once public tours are again available, you may submit a tour request at least 7 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance. My office can assist in securing a tour reservation. Please note that request on your tour request form. If you have questions, you are welcome to call my Washington, DC, office, (202) 224-6142 and speak to the tour coordinator.
Every President since John Adams has lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, one of the most famous addresses in the world. The White House is also the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public. President George Washington oversaw construction of the building, but never resided in it. The White House survived a fire set by British troops in 1814, and another fire in the West Wing in 1929. The White House has six levels (including a two-story basement) and covers approximately 55,000 square feet, including 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms, with 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, eight staircases and three elevators. While it’s now known as The White House (officially given by Theodore Roosevelt in 1901), it has also been known as the President’s Palace, the President’s House, and the Executive Mansion.
