Tours We Can Schedule For You

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.

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, but you can visit the permanent exhibits and buildings without a tour reservation. The other buildings are open to the public and researchers.

The headquarters of the Department of Defense, the Pentagon is one of the largest office buildings in the world and houses approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees. Its unique five-sided construction makes it one of the most recognizable landmarks in the country. The Pentagon conducts limited one-hour public tours, which must be arranged through my office at least two weeks in advance.  If you are able to provide more notice of your request, it would be helpful in making arrangements.

You can visit the 9/11 Memorial on the Pentagon grounds without being on a tour.

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. Since the opening of the Capitol Visitors' Center in December 2008, tours of the Capitol are no longer staff-led, but are given by Capitol Visitor Center professional guides.  This allows two to three times as many visitors as in previous years.  Each tour starts with a short video about the history of the Capitol, followed by stops in the Capitol Crypt, Rotunda and Statuary Hall.

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.

Every President since John Adams has lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, one of the most famous addresses in the world.  It 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 lived in it.  The White House survived a fire set by British troops in 1814 and another fire in the West Wing in 1929.  There are 132 rooms, 35 bathroom and six levels, 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.  Self-guided tours include the East Room and the Blue Room.

A visit to the White House Visitors Center, located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets, is also a great stop and will greatly enhance your tour experience.