If your family is planning to visit Washington, I encourage you to visit my office to pick up passes to watch the House from the House Gallery, where you are able to see voting and speeches. In addition, there are many Washington D.C. area attractions and tours you can arrange on your own.
 DC Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center 1-866-DCISFUN (324-7386)
Make the DC Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center your first stop when you arrive! The current hours of the Visitor Center are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:30 pm, Saturday, 9:00am to 4:00pm, closed on Sunday. Fall and Winter hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm.
Location: 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Metro: Federal Triangle
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Monuments and Memorials |
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African American Civil War Memorial
The monument in Washington, DC is the only national memorial to African American Troops in the Civil War. The Spirit of Freedom sculpture stands ten feet tall and features uniformed black soldiers and a sailor. The sculpture is surrounded by a Wall of Honor, a memorial listing the names of 209,145 United States Colored Troops (USCT) who served in the Civil War.
Location: 1200 U Street, NW
Metro: U Street/Cardoza
The Arlington National Cemetery (703) 607-8052
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.
Location: Memorial Drive and Hwy 110
Metro: Arlington Cemetery
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
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 one of FDR's four terms in office. Park ranger talks and tours daily.
Location: Between the Potomac River and the Cherry Tree Walk of the Tidal Basin
Metro: Smithsonian
Jefferson Memorial (202) 426-6822
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.
Location: South end of the Tidal Basin at 14th St
Metro: Smithsonian
Korean War Veterans Memorial
The new Korean War Veterans' Memorial lies in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, near the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial on the west end of the Mall. It consists of 19 larger-than-life U.S. ground troopers equipped for battle moving toward an American flag. Etched into the granite are photographs of hundreds of faces taken from military archives.
Location: On the National Mall
Metro: Foggy Bottom
Lincoln Memorial (202) 426-6895
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
Location: West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street
Metro: Foggy Bottom
U.S. Marine Corps Memorial to Iwo Jima
The Marine Corps War Memorial is a military memorial statue located near the Arlington National Cemetery and the Netherlands Carillon in Rosslyn, Virginia, United States. The memorial is dedicated to all personnel of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) who have died in the defense of their country since 1775. Its design was based on the iconic photo from the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Location: Arlington Boulevard and Meade Street in Arlington, Virginia
Metro: Rosslyn
U.S. Navy Memorial and Heritage Center
The United States Navy Memorial includes both a commemorative public plaza and a Naval Heritage Center. The plaza is a round ceremonial amphitheater paved in granite to form a 100-foot diameter of the world. Surrounding the deck of the plaza are fountains, pools, flagpole masts, and sculptural panels depicting historic achievements of the sea services. A symbolic statue of a Lone Sailor stands watch near the edge of the plaza.
Location: 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Metro: Archives/Navy Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (202) 634-1568
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 wall. Open 24 hours daily.
Location: Constitution Gardens on Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Ave NW, on the Mall
Metro: Foggy Bottom
The Washington Monument (202) 426-6840
Closed through late spring, 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 8:00AM to Midnight and from Labor Day through March from 9:00AM to 5:00 PM. Reserved tickets may be purchased online through the National Park Service. Closed until late spring for renovations.
Location: On the Mall at 15th Street NW
Metro: Smithsonian
World War II Memorial
The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people. The Second World War is the only 20th Century event commemorated on the National Mall’s central axis.
Location: National Mall
Metro: Smithsonian
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Government and Public Buildings |
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The U.S. Capitol (202) 225-6827
The Capitol Guide Service conducts free guided tours of the Capitol Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The first public tour begins each day at 9:00 A.M. and the last at 3:30 PM. Tours last approximately thirty to forty minutes.Tickets are distributed each morning beginning at 9:00 AM at first-come first-served at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk in front of the West Entrance of the Capitol. Tickets are required for all tours of the Capitol. Capitol Guide Service personnel distribute the tickets on a first come, first serve basis from the Kiosk at the Southwest corner of the Capitol grounds, across from the Botanic Gardens. Tickets are distributed one per person and are for same day admission only. During the busy months of Spring and Summer, the line for tickets forms quite early in the morning, so please plan accordingly. The Capitol is closed Christmas, New Year's and Thanksgiving. Information about tours for the disabled is available from the Congressional Special Services Office at 202-224-4048 (voice) or 202-224-4049 (TDD). Tour Bus Route between the Capitol and Lot B at Union Station. Or take a virtual tour.
Location: East corner of the National Mall
Metro: Capitol South or Union Station
Eisenhower Old Executive Office Building
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is located next to the West Wing, and houses a majority of offices for White House staff. Originally built for the State, War and Navy Departments between 1871 and 1888, the EEOB is an impressive building that commands a unique position in both our national history and architectural heritage.
Location: Pennsylvania Ave and 17 th St, NW
Metro: Farragut North or Farragut West
The Library of Congress (202) 707-5458
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. Public tours are offered Monday through Friday at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
Guided tours for groups of 10 or fewer of the Thomas Jefferson building available 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM (Sat. 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM only). Groups of 10 or more require reservations. Open Mon-Sat 10 AM - 5:30 PM, admittance is free. American Treasures of the Library of Congress
Location: Jefferson Building, 1st St and Independence Ave, SE
Metro: Capitol South or Union Station
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library is the main branch of the District of Columbia Public Library. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the 400,000 square foot (37,000 m²) steel, brick, and glass structure, and it is a rare example of modern architecture in Washington, D.C.
Location: 901 G Street, NW
Metro: Metro Center
The National Archives (202) 501-5000
The National Archives building is being renovated, however the building remains open to the public during renovation and tours are available. The Rotunda is where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are on display.
Location: 700 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Metro: Archives/Navy Memorial
U.S. Naval Observatory (202) 653-1543
The U.S. Naval Observatory is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the country. Established in 1830 as the Depot of Charts and Instruments, its primary mission was to care for the U.S. Navy's chronometers, charts and other navigational equipment. Evening hours are available Monday at 8:30 PM, weather permitting, exception Federal holidays.
Location: 34th and Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Metro: Friendship Heights
Reagan Building and International Trade Center
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is the largest building (3.1 million square feet) in Washington, DC, and is owned by the U.S. General Services Administration. As the first and only federal building dedicated to both government and private use, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center has been mandated by Congress to bring together the country’s best public and private resources to create a national forum for the advancement of trade.
Location: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Metro: Federal Triangle Metro
U.S. Supreme Court (202) 479-3030
This impressive building of white marble houses the highest court in the land. Public tours are offered Monday through Friday every hour on the half hour from 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM, except Federal holidays. No tours are given during August. The Supreme Court is in session beginning the first Monday in October and continues for two weeks per month through April. Courtroom seats are available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis when the Court is in session. Visitors are also welcome to attend one of the 20-minute public lectures scheduled each day that the Court is not hearing oral arguments. Lectures are held every hour from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM. No reservations are required.
Location: 1st and East Capitol Streets, NE
Metro: Capitol South or Union Station
The White House Visitor Center (202) 208-1631
Located inside the north end of the Department of Commerce Building between 14th & 15th Streets on Pennsylvania Avenue, open daily 7:30AM – 4:00PM. It offers an array of information on the architecture, furnishings, first families and social events, a 30 minute video and a gift shop. The National Park Service at the White House Visitor Center is also available to provide your group with a variety of alternative experiences related to the White House, including guided walks, talks, films and lectures. There are several memorials, monuments and statues located in the White House Ellipse, as well as the Visitors Pavilion (8:00AM – 3:00PM) information, concessions and gifts. There is no parking available, but there are several parking garages nearby. Online History and Tours, Life in the White House
Location: 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Metro: Metro Center or Federal Triangle
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Federal Departments |
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Bureau of Engraving & Printing (202) 283-2646
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. Public tours are available from 10:00 AM to 1:45 PM and are 30-45 minutes in length. Tickets are required and are available at 8:00 AM each day for that day's tours only. The ticket booth is located on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th Street). Evening tours from May 6th through August 30th are offered every 5 minutes from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The ticket booth reopens at 3:30 PM to disburse free tickets. Closed weekends and federal holidays.
Location: 14th and C Streets, SW
Metro: Smithsonian
Department of the Treasury (202) 637-7000
Tours of the Main Treasury Building are conducted on Saturdays with advance reservations made through Congressional offices. The Historic Treasury Building tour program is operated by the Office of the Curator.
Location: 15 St. and Hamilton Place, NW
Metro: Metro Center or McPherson Square
Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.)
Closed to tours. No public or Congressional tours are available at this time.
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Museums and Galleries |
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Corcoran Gallery of Art (202) 639-1700
The first art museum in Washington, the Corcoran Gallery was housed from 1869 to 1896 in the redbrick and brownstone building that is now the Renwick. The collection outgrew its quarters and was transferred in 1897 to its present beaux arts building, designed by Ernest Flagg. The collection, shown in rotating exhibits, focuses chiefly on American art.
Location: 500 17th Street NW
Metro: Farragut Square or Foggy Bottom Metros
Ford's Theater and Lincoln Museum (202) 426-6924
The building is open every day between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM with the exception of Christmas. The Petersen's Boarding House, where President Lincoln died, is across the street and free tours are available.
Location: 10th Street between Eand F Streets
Metro: Metro Center, Gallery Place/Chinatown, or Archives/Navy Memorial
Hillwood Museum and Gardens (202) 686-5807
Hillwood House, cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post's 40-room Georgian mansion, contains a large collection of 18th- and 19th-century French and Russian decorative art that includes gold and silver work, icons, tapestries, porcelain, and Fabergé eggs. Also on the estate are a dacha (summer cottage) filled with Russian objects and an Adirondacks-style cabin that houses Native American artifacts. The 12-acre estate grounds are composed of lawns, formal French and Japanese gardens, greenhouses, and paths that wind through plantings of azaleas, laurels, and rhododendrons.
Location: 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW
Holocaust Memorial Museum (202) 488-0400
The Holocaust Museum serves as a national repository for Holocaust related artifacts and materials. Permanent exhibition is recommended for those over the age of 11. Open 7 days a week except on Christmas and Yom Kippur. Admission is free and a limited number of tickets are passed out each day. During peak tourist season, tickets are usually completely dispensed before noon. To ensure a specific day for the museum, you can reserve your tickets through Tickets.com at (800) 400-9373 for a fee of $2.75 a ticket.
Location: South of Independence Ave SW between 14th St and Raoul Wallenborg Place
Metro: Smithsonian
International Spy Museum (202) 393-7798
Gain access to the world's largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display. Over 600 pieces are on exhibit, including our collection of G-Man toys from the 1930s and 1940s when interest in G-Men ("G" stands for "Government," in this case FBI agents) was at a high and children searched for worthy role models. Same-Day Tickets are those purchased in person at the International Spy Museum for use on the same day as purchased, either for immediate access or for a time later the same day. All Tickets are date and time specific and are subject to availability. You may purchase advance tickets by phone at 800.551.7328 (800.551.SEAT); online Ticketmaster.com
Location: 800 F Street NW
Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown or Archives/Navy Memorial
National Building Museum (202) 272-2448
Open to the public Monday - Saturday, 10AM to 5 PM, and Sunday, 11AM to 5 PM. The Museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. On rare occasions, the Museum may close for a special event. Admission is free. A donation of $5 per person is suggested.
Location: 401 F Street NW, between 4th and 5th Streets
Metro: Judiciary Square
National Children's Museum (202) 675-4120
Scheduled to reopen in 2012.
Location: 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 5100
Metro: L'Enfant Plaza
National Gallery of Art (202) 737-4215
Open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. To make your self-guided visit to the National Gallery of Art more enjoyable, please call (202) 789-4623 two weeks prior to your visit to register your group. Leave your name, the name of your school, your school address, and the date and time you will be coming to the Gallery. Self-guided groups must be accompanied by one adult chaperone for every ten students. Please indicate whether you would like to receive information describing resources at the Gallery. Self-guided groups must register their groups either in advance by phone or at the Art Information Desk upon arrival.
Location: National Mall between 3rd and 7th Streets at Constitution Avenue, NW
Metro: Judiciary Square, Archives/Navy Memorial, or Smithsonian
National Geographic Society (202) 857-7588
The Society's museum, Explorers Hall Admission is free. Open Monday through Saturday and holidays from 9AM to 5PM Sundays from 10AM to 5PM. Closed December 25.
Location: 17thand M Streets N.W.
Metro: Farragut North or Farragut West
U.S. Navy Museum and Navy Yard (202) 433-4882
On the banks of the Anacostia River. The original buildings date back to the 1800's & contain the Navy Memorial Museumand Marine Corps Museum. The Navy Museum is freeand opened from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM weekdays. Docked near the Navy Museum is a real Vietnam-era destroyer, the USS Barry. The USS Barry is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Location: 9th and M Streets, SE
The Smithsonian Institution
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 10:00AM to 5:30 PM.
Location: National Mall
Metro: Smithsonian
Air and Space Museum (202) 633-1000
The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. has hundreds of original, historic artifacts on display, including the Wright 1903 Flyer; the Spirit of St. Louis; the Apollo 11 command module Columbia; and a Lunar rock sample that visitors can touch. The Museum is open 10AM to 5:30PM everyday but December 25th.
Location: 6th and Independence Avenue, S.W.
Metro: Smithsonian
American History Museum (202) 633-1000
The National Museum of American History dedicates its collections and scholarship to inspiring a broader understanding of our nation and its many peoples. The American History Museum is currently closed for renovations.
Location: 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Metro: Smithsonian or L'Enfant Plaza
Hirshhorn Museum (202) 633-4674
The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is a leading voice for contemporary art and culture and provides a national platform for the art and artists of our time. The Museum is open 10AM to 5:30PM everyday but December 25th.
Location: Seventh Street and Independence Avenue, S.W.
Metro: L'Enfant Plaza
Museum of African Art (202) 633-4600
The National Museum of African Art seeks to display and commemorate all forms of art originating in Africa. Museum is open 10AM to 5:30PM everyday but December 25th.
Location:950 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Metro: Smithsonian or L'Enfant Plaza
Museum of Natural History (202) 633-1000
The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s preeminent museum and research complex. The Museum is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collections, exhibitions, and education outreach programs. Museum is open 10AM to 5:30PM everyday but December 25th.
Location: 10th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Metro: Smithsonian
Museum of African American History (202) 633-1000
The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was established by an Act of Congress in 2003, making it the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Scheduled for completion in 2015, it will be built on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on a five-acre tract adjacent to the Washington Monument.
Location: National Mall
Metro: Smithsonian
National Museum of the American Indian (202) 633-1000
The Museum of the American Indian celebrates the lives and culture of the American Indian. The museum’s galleries and display spaces house both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum’s permanent exhibitions, Our Universes, Our Peoples, and Our Lives, represent important ideas and experiences in Native life and history. Museum is open 10AM to 5:30PM everyday but December 25th.
Location: 4th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W.
Metro: L'Enfant Plaza
National Portrait Gallery (202) 633-8300
enerations of remarkable Americans are kept in the company of their fellow citizens at the National Portrait Gallery. The Gallery presents the wonderful diversity of individuals who have left–and are leaving–their mark on our country and our culture. The Museum is open 11:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m. daily Closed December 25.
Location: 750 Ninth Street, NW
Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown
National Postal Museum (202) 633-5555
The National Postal Museum, a Smithsonian Institution museum, is located in the old Post Office building next to Union Station in Washington, D.C. The Museum was created by an agreement between the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Postal Service in 1990 and opened to the public in 1993. The Museum is open 10:00AM to 5:30PM except December 25.
Location: 2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Metro: Union Station
Sackler and Freer Galleries
The gallery houses a world-renowned collection of art from China, Japan, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, and the Near East. Visitor favorites include Chinese paintings, Japanese folding screens, Korean ceramics, Indian and Persian manuscripts, and Buddhist sculpture.
The Museum is open 10:00AM to 5:30PM except December 25.
Location: Sackler Gallery - 1050 Independence Avenue, SW, Freer Gallery of Art - Jefferson Drive at 12th Street, SW. The two museums are connected by an underground exhibition space
Metro: Smithsonian or L'Enfant Plaza
The Smithsonian Institute, The Castle Building
The gallery houses a world-renowned collection of art from China, Japan, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, and the Near East. Visitor favorites include Chinese paintings, Japanese folding screens, Korean ceramics, Indian and Persian manuscripts, and Buddhist sculpture. The Museum is open 10:00AM to 5:30PM except December 25.
Location: 1000 Jefferson Drive SW
Metro: Smithsonian or L'Enfant Plaza
Textile Museum (202) 667-0441
The Textile Museum is dedicated to furthering the understanding of mankind's creative achievements in the textile arts. As a museum, it is committed to its role as a center of excellence in the scholarly research, conservation, interpretation and exhibition of textiles, with particular concern for the artistic, technical and cultural significance of its collections.
The museum is open Monday - Saturday 10:00AM to 5:00PM except national holidays and December 24th.
Location: 2320 S Street, NW
Metro: Dupont Circle
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Historical Buildings of Interest |
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Decatur House and Museum (202) 842-0920
Decatur House is one of the oldest surviving homes in Washington, DC, and one of only three remaining residential buildings in the country designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the father of American architecture.
Location: 748 Jackson Pace, NW
Metro: Dupont Circle
Heurich House Museum (202) 429-1894
One of Washington's best-kept secrets, The Brewmaster's Castle is the most intact late-Victorian home in the country, and a Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.
Built in 1892-1894 of poured concrete and reinforced steel by German immigrant, local brewer and philanthropist, Christian Heurich (HI-rick), it is also the city's first fireproof home.
Location: 1307 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Metro: Dupont Circle
Peirce Mill (202) 895-6070
Peirce Mill was built in the 1820's, and operated commercially until 1897. The United States Government acquired the mill as part of Rock Creek Park in 1892. Currently the mill is not operating. It is being preserved and ultimately will be made operable again when sufficient funding for repairs is made available. Peirce Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Location: 2375 Tilden St., NW
Metro: Cleveland Park or Van Ness/UDC
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