Visiting Washington D.C.
Planning a Visit to D.C.?
Are you planning a visit to Washington, DC? While you are in Washington, DC, I highly encourage you and your family to stop by my office. Whether you are coming on a short business trip, or an extended family vacation, my office can help you make plans to visit some of the more popular federal attractions in our nation’s capital.
White House and U.S. Capitol Tours
United States Capitol Tours
We are pleased to announce that Phase 2 of the resumption of Capitol tours has already begun. Phase 2 features an extension of reserved tour times and the reopening of the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) for tour access. The decision to move into Phase 2 was made in coordination with the Capitol Police Board, the Attending Physician, Visitor Services, and the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP). Phased reopening will continue while the USCP recruit and train additional officers. Please note the following important information.
Guide-led and staff-led tours will be available from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Please note that reservations can be made up to three months in advance.
To work with my office to schedule a tour of the Capitol building, contact my tour coordinator at Sewell.Tours@mail.house.gov.
- Public access to tour reservations: The public may now reserve tours directly through the public CVC public website: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/ and go to Emancipation Hall to check in.
- Group size limitations remain the same as in Phase 1: Group tours may have a maximum of 50 guests. Staff-led tours may have a maximum of 15 guests.
- Tour groups will no longer enter via the Longworth House Office Building: Tour groups are directed to enter via the main entrance of the CVC and proceed to Emancipation Hall to check in.
- Arrival: Groups should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to their reservation time.
Capitol Visitors Center (CVC)
- The CVC gift shops, and the CVC Capitol Cafeteria will reopen to tour guests. Please visit the CVC website for more information: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
Dome Tours
- Dome tours remain unchanged in Phase 2: Dome tours may be scheduled for a maximum of eight individuals, including the Member. Members must personally accompany their Dome tour guests.
- The Office of Attending Physician strongly advises those with heart, back, neck, knee, or with any disability that may prevent them from walking should not go on a dome tour due to the climbing of over 300 steps to reach the top of the dome.
- Dome tour reservations are available 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The White House
White House tours are available from 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays only.
Requests for tours must be submitted through a Member of Congress. Requests must be submitted a minimum of 45 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance of the requested dates. Please reach out to our office about setting up a White House Tour. Our office can be reached at 202-225-2665.
For more information on White House Tours, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/visit/
Metro: McPherson Square
Other Memorials, Monuments, Museums, and Points of Interest
Smithsonian Museums
The Smithsonian Institute is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. Many of the Smithsonian museums are located on the National Mall. Admission is free and tickets are not required for most Washington, D.C. museums. However, free time entry passes are required to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The museum is open 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Tuesday-Friday. On Mondays, the museum opens at 12:00 PM and closes at 5:30pm. Free timed-entry passes are required for visitors of all ages. Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance and are released daily beginning at 8:00 AM EST. Passes can be reserved here.
For groups of 10 or more, group passes can be reserved here.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is now open to visitors. Visitors will need to request free time entry passes for every member of the group, regardless of age. Passes may be reserved up to 30 days in advance. Masks are optional but recommended for visitors.
- For groups of 19 or less, reserve free timed entry passes here: https://loc.usedirect.com/LOC/
- For groups of 20 or more, reserve free timed entry passes here: https://www.loc.gov/visit/large-group-reservations/
More information about the Library of Congress can be found at: https://www.loc.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/
Metro Stop: Two blocks from the Capitol South Station.
National Mall and Memorial Parks
The sprawling lands of the National Mall & Memorial Parks make “America’s Front Yard” a must-see on any visit to Washington, D.C. Home to some of the nation’s most iconic memorials and museums, they help tell the story of the people and events that shaped America.
As part of the National Parks System, Park Rangers are available from 8:00 AM to midnight every day except Christmas day. Rangers are available to help answer questions and present interpretive themes.
There is no fee to visit any of the monuments or memorials in the park. Some of the most popular memorials include:
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial
Supreme Court
Although the Supreme Court is closed to the public for tours, oral arguments are open to the public. The Court will hear all scheduled oral arguments for the current term in the Courtroom. Seating will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Masking in the courtroom is optional for visitors. For more information, visit https://www.supremecourt.gov/
Other Points of Interest:
The Corcoran Gallery of Art Museum
Department of the Interior Museum
Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Museum
National Museum of American Jewish Military History
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The museum is currently open daily from 10:00 AM ro 5:30 PM . Free timed-entry tickets are required to enter. More information can be found here: https://www.ushmm.org/information/visit-the-museum/admission-tickets
Voice of America is currently closed due to COVID-19.