Washington, D.C., Tour Information
United States Capitol 202-224-3121 Location: Located at the center of the city Metro stops: Capitol South or Union Station The Capitol Guide Service offers a forty-minute guided tour from 9:00 am to 3:45 pm daily, departing from the Rotunda. The tour runs every fifteen minutes. They are closed Christmas, New Year’s and Thanksgiving. Visitors are welcome to view the floor debates from the galleries by obtaining passes from your Congressman or Senator.
Library of Congress 202-707-5458 Location: Jefferson Building, 1st Street and Independence Ave, SE Metro stops: Capitol South The world’s largest and most open research library, millions of scholars, readers and tourists visit the Library of Congress annually. Our country’s national library contains over 75 million volumes. Tours are conducted every hour on the hour from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. The Library asks that groups over 10 people make a reservation for a specific tour.
The White House 202-456-7041 Location: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Metro stops: Metro Center or Federal Triangle Tour the home of the President of the United States. The White House has been home to every president except George Washington. Open Tuesday through Saturday, visitors are welcome from 10 am to Noon. Tickets must be obtained at the Visitors Waiting Area on the Ellipse the day of the tour from 8:00 am to Noon. Visitors are requested to go to the East Gate on East Executive Ave to wait in line. Since the White House is occasionally closed for official events, it is recommended that visitors call in advance.
Washington Monument 202-426-6840 Location: On the Mall at 15th Street NW Metro stops: Smithsonian The Washington Monument is the city’s tallest structure, standing at 555’ 5”, a tribute to our nation’s first president. There are 897 steps the public may walk down, however, to reach the top, elevators must be used. The lines tend to be long, but they generally move quickly. Your wait will be rewarded by a panoramic view of the nation’s capitol from the top of the Monument. Open daily the day after Easter to Labor Day from 8:00 am to Midnight and from Labor Day through March from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Jefferson Memorial 202-426-6822 Location: South end of the Tidal Basin at 14th Street Metro stops: Smithsonian This monument is in honor of Thomas Jefferson, third president, author of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. You may rent paddleboats at the Swan Boathouse and cruise the Basin. Open 8:00 am to Midnight every day but Christmas.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Location: Between the Potomac River and the Cherry Tree Walk of the Tidal Basin Metro stop: Smithsonian This memorial is a tribute to both President Roosevelt and the time in which he lived. There is a sequence of four outdoor rooms, each representing on of FDR’s four terms in office. Park ranger talks and tours daily; available upon request.
Lincoln Memorial 202-426-6895 Location: West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street Metro stops: Foggy Bottom This monument is in honor of Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president, overlooking the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument and the US Capitol. Open 24 hours daily.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial 202-634-1568 Location: Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Ave NW, on the Mall Metro stops: Foggy Bottom Constructed of black granite to honor all Americans who served in the Vietnam War. In chronological order are over 58,000 names inscribed in the marble wall. Open 24 hours daily.
The U.S. Supreme Court 202-479-3030 Location: 1st and East Capitol Streets Metro stops: Capitol South This impressive building of white marble houses the highest court in the land. Guided tours are available, when the Court is not convening, Mondays through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, except Federal holidays. No tours are given during August.
Botanic Gardens 202-225-8333 Location: Independence and First St, SW Metro stops: Federal Center SW or Capitol South At the foot of the Capitol, under 29,000 square feet of glass, surrounded by ornamental pools this conservatory has more than 8,000 different types of exotic fruits, flowers and plants. Unfortunately, the Botanic Gardens are closed for renovation until 2002.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 202-488-0400 Location: just south of Independence Ave SW between 14th St and Raoul Wallenborg Place Metro stops: Smithsonian The Holocaust Museum serves as a national repository for Holocaust related artifacts and materials. Permanent exhibition is recommend for those over the age of 11. Open 7 days a week except on Christmas and Yom Kippur.
Smithsonian Museums 202-357-2700 Location: National Mall Metro stops: Smithsonian As the world’s largest museum complex, it holds over 139 million artifacts of American history; including the Air and Space Museum, Arts and Industries, Museum of Natural History, and Museum of American History. Open year round from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
National Gallery of Art 202-737-4215 Location: National Mall between 3rd and 7th Sts, NW Metro stops: Smithsonian or Archives The National Gallery of Art is one of the world’s largest marble structures, measuring 780 feet in length and containing more than 500,000 square feet. Open year round Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sundays from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm every day except Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Ford’s Theater and Lincoln Museum 202-426-6924 Location: 10th Street between E & F Sts Metro stops: Metro Center or Gallery Place or Archives The building is open every day between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm with the exception of Christmas. The Peterson house, where President Lincoln died, is across the street and free tours are available.
Arlington National Cemetery 703-607-8052 Location: Memorial Drive and Hwy 110 Metro stops: Arlington Cemetery Open daily October through March from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and April through September from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. View the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every hour on the hour and every half hour during the summer months. See the Amphitheater, the Custis-Lee Mansion, and the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft.
Washington National Cathedral 202-537-6200 Location: Massachusetts & Wisconsin Ave NW Metro stops: Tenleytown Station to “30” series Metro bus The National Cathedral is the second-largest Gothic cathedral in the United States. From the Cathedral, you may view the nation’s capitol or simply enjoy the peaceful gardens and the beauty of the Cathedral. Open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:15 pm, except during services and special events. Tours are from 12:45 pm to 2:45 pm.
Smithsonian National Zoo 202-673-4717 Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave, NW Metro stops: Woodley Park Zoo or Cleveland Park Visit the new panda exhibit, see the orangutans swing or tour the heritage gardens and wetlands. This visit takes a minimum of three hours; parking charges are per hour. The grounds are open daily from May 1 to Sept 15 from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm (Buildings are open from 10 am to 6 pm) and September 16 to April 30 from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm (Buildings are open from 10 am to 4:30 pm).
The Department of Treasury 202-622-0896 Location: Next to the White House on 15th Street, between F & G Sts, NW Metro stops: Metro Center This tour includes the history of the Treasury Department and the building’s architecture history, including a tour of the Andrew Johnson suite. It was in this suite, in 1865, that President Johnson conducted official business for six weeks after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It also includes the beautiful Salmon P. Chase suite, the Cash room (site of Grant’s inaugural reception) and the 1864 burglarproof vault. Tours are conducted Saturday mornings and last about 90 minutes.
The Bureau of Engraving & Printing 202-283-2646 Location: 14th & C Sts, SW Metro stops: Smithsonian See how United States currency is printed. Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Closed weekends, Federal holidays and December 24 through January 3rd.
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