The nation's capital is host to millions of tourists each year.  My congressional office, which is located in Room 2328 of the Rayburn House Office Building and can be reached by calling (202) 225-4071, is available to assist you.  I look forward to welcoming you to Washington, DC.

If you are planning a trip to our nation's capital, and are a resident of Michigan's 15th Congressional District, please contact one of my offices or complete a tour request form.  Please read the following section to learn more about the availability and guidelines for congressionally arranged tours.

The White House

Tour Summary: These self-guided tours have access to parts of the East Wing of the presidential residence. The tour lasts approximately 30 minutes and includes the East Room, Red Room, the Blue Room, the Green Room, and the White House Dining Room.

Availability: Scheduled tours are offered Tuesday – Saturday from 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM, excluding Federal holidays. The White House is also frequently closed for official events. These tours must be arranged through a congressional office and require at least 1 month of advance notice to submit a request, and 6 months of advance notice is highly recommended. Passes are granted on a first-come, first-served basis, and are extremely limited during the spring and summer months. Due to the large volume of requests and limited number of passes, most requests are unfortunately not accepted by the White House.
To place a request, Representative Dingell’s office must submit the following security information to the White House on behalf of each member of your group: the full name, date of birth, and for all visitors over 13, the Social Security Number. Non-US citizens must provide the full name, date of birth, Passport Number, and country of origin.

Location: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. The closest Metro stop is McPherson Square (Blue and Orange Lines).

The United States Capitol

Tour Summary: Guided tours of the Capitol begin with a 13-minute video that highlights the role of Congress throughout our nation’s history and introduces you to the symbolic structure that houses the U.S. Congress. The tour features the Capitol Rotunda, Statuary Hall, and the Crypt. You may visit Representative Dingell’s office in 2328 Rayburn House Office Building if you would like to pick up passes to visit the House and Senate galleries.

Availability: Tours depart every 10 minutes, Monday – Saturday (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day) from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Location: Tours depart from the Capitol Visitor Center, located below the East Plaza of the Capitol, at 1st Street and East Capitol Street. This is between Constitution and Independence Avenues.

The Supreme Court

Tour Summary: On days the Court is not in session, congressional lectures can be reserved for groups of six and fewer. This lecture, conducted by a professional docent, provides an overview of the nation’s highest court.

Availability: Public lectures are offered from Monday – Friday, 9:30 – 3:30 every hour on the half hour. Admission is granted on a first come, first-served basis. You can place reservations through Representative Dingell’s office for congressional lectures, which are held at 2:00 PM Monday – Friday. Several months’ advance notice is recommended, as congressional lectures fill up extremely rapidly.

Location: The Supreme Court is on 1st Street, NE, across from the U. S. Capitol and across East Capitol Street from the Library of Congress. Both Union Station (Red Line) and Capitol South (Blue and Orange Lines) are within walking distance.

The Library of Congress

Tour Summary: A tour of the Thomas Jefferson Building includes a 22 minute video and a tour of the Great Hall led by a professional docent.  

Availability: Congressional offices can reserve available tours at 8:30 AM, 1:45 PM, or 3:45 PM Monday – Friday. Public tours are also available Monday – Friday at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM; and Saturday 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM. The Library is closed on Sundays and holidays. To make reservations through Representative Dingell’s office, at least three months of advance notice is recommended.  

Location: The Thomas Jefferson Building is located at 101 Independence Ave SE, across the street from the U.S. Capitol. The closest metro stop is Capitol South (Blue and Orange Lines).

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Tour Summary: Tours of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing allow visitors to watch the production of millions of dollars of currency by following the large, blank sheets of paper as they become wallet-ready bills.

Availability: The Bureau is closed on weekends, federal holidays and the week before Christmas and New Years. Congressional tours are available at 8:15 and 8:45 AM from September to April, and at 4:00 PM, 4:15 PM, 4:30 PM, and 4:45 PM all year. Public tours for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are offered year round. During the peak tourism season (March-August), tickets are required for the tour. Same-day tickets are given out on a first-come-first-serve basis at the Bureau's ticket booth on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th Street). The ticket booth opens at 8:00 AM and closes once all the tickets have been distributed, which can be as soon as 8:30 AM in the peak season. To make reservations through Representative Dingell’s office, at least three months of advance notice is recommended.  

Location: 14th and C Streets, SW. The closest metro stop is Smithsonian on the Blue and Orange Lines.

The National Archives

Tour Summary: Tours of the National Archives allow visitors to view a plethora of historical documents and discover how they reflect our history. Such documents available for viewing are: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Availability: The National Archives is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Public tours of the Archives are given daily from 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM March 15 through Labor Day and 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM the rest of the year. To make reservations through Representative Dingell’s office, at least three months of advance notice is recommended.  

Location: Between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, with entrances on Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues. The closest metro station is the Archives/Navy Memorial stop on the Green and Yellow Lines.

The Kennedy Center

Tour Summary: This living memorial to President John F. Kennedy provides tours of the Center’s interactive exhibits and five theaters, including the Concert Hall, Opera House, and Eisenhower Theater.  

Availability: Congressional tours of the Kennedy Center are offered at 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM., Monday through Saturday. Public tours begin approximately every 10 minutes from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays and 10AM – 1:00 PM on weekends.

Location: The Kennedy Center is located on the bank of the Potomac River, at 2700 F Street, NW. 

Online tour request form

Printer-friendly tour request form

For further tourist information, select one of the following:

• Washington, D.C. Official Tourism Site

• House of Representatives Washington DC Tourism Page

• Smithsonian Institute

• Information on: Transportation, Tour Services, Memorials, Monuments and Places of Interest, Plantations/Historic Mansions, DC Area Sports and Theatres