Tours You Can Schedule On Your Own

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is responsible for the design, engraving and printing the paper currency that we use every day.  During a tour of the facility, you will see millions of dollars being printed—from the blank sheets of paper right through to bills ready for your wallet.  The Bureau was first established in 1862; although printing, producing and examination technologies are up-to-date, engravers still use some of the same traditional tools that have been used for over 125 years.

The 45-minute tour covers the Diplomatic Reception Rooms used by the Department of State for official functions.  The rooms hold a premier collection of 18th century American furniture, paintings and decorative arts.  The tour is recommended for those over the age of 12.

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 for 3rd President Thomas Jefferson, who, in 1814, sold his personal library of 6,487 books to the library to rebuild the library’s collection which was destroyed  when the British burned the Capitol during the War of 1812.  It is the most ornate of the buildings and is home to the spectacular Reading Room; public and congressional tours are conducted daily. The other buildings are open to the public and researchers.

Millions of documents are created in the course of government business, but less than three percent are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept forever.  It is in the National Archives that you will find some of those documents, including the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution, which are in display in the Exhibit Hall.  You can also make arrangements to visit the Research Room to conduct your own research in the textual and microfilm records kept at the National Archives. You can view what documents are available here.  The Archives were collected starting in 1926.  While no tickets are needed, the lines form early during spring and summer months.

Located at the Washington Navy Yard, this is the official history program of the U.S. Navy and is a great research resource about Naval history.  It contains displays on Navy ships, submarines, and various wars in which the Navy has played a role.  Artifacts from Admiral Richard Byrd’s Polar Expedition, uniforms and weapons. For safety reasons, please do not use public transportation to get to the Museum; plenty of parking is available inside the Navy Yard.

The U.S. Capitol Guide Service offers tours of the U.S. Capitol, which we can reserve for you or you can book it yourself. You can tour the Capitol Visitors Center without any reservation or ticket, but tickets are required to enter the U.S. Capitol.  You can book a tour online at Visit The Capitol or you can pick up same-day tickets at the Tour Kiosks at the East and West Fronts of the Capitol.  Tickets are handed out daily and cannot be reserved. Tours operate Monday through Saturday, 9am to 3:30pm.  Please be aware of security guidelines and prohibited items in the U.S. Capitol.

During World War II, approximately six million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. The Holocaust Museum is America's memorial to those who were killed. Its goal is to stimulate visitors to confront hatred, prevent genocide, promote human dignity and strengthen democracy.  Carefully-crafted exhibits carry stark reminders of what happened during the Holocaust. While this is a somber museum, it is an educational and personal experience that is unforgettable.

Each Friday evening during the summer months, the Washington, DC, Marine Corps Barracks hosts an evening parade and concert by the U.S. Marine Corps Band. The one hour, fifteen minute performance of music and precision marching ceremony reflects the story of the Marines and their service throughout the world. Features are “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Marine Corps Color Guard, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, Ceremonial Marchers, and Sgt. Cherty XII, the official mascot of the Marine Barracks Washington.  Reservations can be made through the Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, website.

The oldest scientific agency in the country offers limited public tours. The tour takes you through the USNO's unique library and gives you a perspective on the timekeeping responsibilities entrusted to the agency. You may even have the opportunity to view celestial objects with the 12-inch Alvan Clark refractor telescope.

The Voice of America is an international broadcasting service that provides more than 1,000 hours of news, information, educational and cultural programming each week to a worldwide audience that exceeds 115 million people.  Those broadcasts are conducted in more than 40 languages.  The studio tour is a behind-the-scenes look at live broadcasting in radio, television and the Internet in several of the languages in which VOA broadcasts; a “Kid’s Version” of the tour is also offered.  The tour lasts 45 minutes.  You can make arrangements for a tour online through the link above.

No building in Washington, DC, is allowed to be taller than this 555-foot monument to our 1st President, George Washington. It is shaped like an Egyptian obelisk and took 40 years to build. The 50 flags that surround the base of the monument represent the 50 states.

The National Cathedral is an Episcopal church that was chartered by Congress. The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul took 83 years to build. It has been the site of a number of Presidential funerals, with more than 150 people interred (including Helen Keller and Woodrow Wilson).

Several touring options are offered--guided tours that focus on art, architecture and history; a garden tour; a gargoyle tour; and other options. Check the Washington National Cathedral website for details on what is offered.