Visiting Washington - Monuments, Federal and Historic Buildings

Due to increased security, many federal buildings in Washington have suspended or limited their tours. Please contact Senator Domenici's office for more information.

Arlington National Cemetery
America's largest national burial ground with more than 600 acres of landscaped hills. Among the thousands of white headstones are the graves of President John F. Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, world champion boxer Joe Louis and the Tomb of the Unknowns. Open daily 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. (to 7 p.m. Apr.-Sept.). Free admission. Choice of self-guided walking tour or paid shuttle tour (information available at the Visitors Center). Metro: Arlington Cemetery.

Bureau of Printing and Engraving
See currency printed at the rate of 8,000 sheets per hour on the guided, 35-minute tour. Two kinds of tours are available: general tours and school group tours. Tickets are required for all general tours from March 6 through September. Tickets can be picked up from the Bureau's ticket booth on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th St.). The ticket booth is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. until 1:45 p.m., or until all tickets are distributed. During non-peak months, tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To obtain tickets you must have a valid photo ID (driver's license, military ID or passport). Please call (202)874-2330 or toll free 1-866-874-2330.

Please Note: The following items are strictly prohibited in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and you will not be allowed to enter the building if you have book bags, backpacks, aerosol sprays, any pointed objects such as knives, razor blades, box cutters, guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace or martial arts weapons/devices. Please be advised that they are very strict about this and there is no place nearby to store prohibited items.

U.S. Capitol
Free guided tours leave every 15 minutes in the Rotunda daily 9 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. and include the Statuary Hall, the original Supreme Court chamber and the Crypt, intended burial place of George and Martha Washington. Open 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (to 8 p.m. Memorial Day-Labor Day) except New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Free admission. Metro: Capitol South and Union Station.

Tips for Touring Capitol Hill

House and Senate Galleries:
Passes to the House and Senate galleries to observe debate on the floor of Congress can be obtained from Senator Domenici's Washington office in the Hart Senate Building. Children must be at least six years of age to be admitted to the Senate gallery. In the House, children under 10 are allowed in the gallery if accompanied by an adult. Both galleries are open between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, but may open earlier, depending on when the House and Senate are in session.

Meals:
Cafeterias are located in the Dirksen Senate Building directly north of the Capitol, the Rayburn and Longworth House Office Building directly south of the Capitol, and the James Madison Memorial Annex to the Library of Congress. The Madison Cafeteria is open to the public during all hours of business, while other cafeterias are open to the public from 8:00 am to 11:45 am and from 1:15 to 2:30 pm.

Please Note: Visitors to the Capitol are not permitted to bring any of the following items: aerosol sprays, cans or bottles (including water bottles), oversized suitcases, or backpacks, knives of any kind, razors, mace or pepper spray. However, Capitol police are authorized to make exceptions if the prohibited item is deemed to be necessary and required to serve child care, medical, or other special needs.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial
Open daily except Christmas. Free. Park Ranger in attendance 8 a.m. - midnight. Metro: Smithsonian.

Jefferson Memorial
Open daily except Christmas. Free. Park ranger in attendance 8 a.m.-midnight. Metro: Smithsonian. Pedal boats available for rent at the boathouse from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Metro: Smithsonian

Library of Congress
Open for visitors Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Closed Sunday and all federal holidays. Free admission. Public tours of the Jefferson Building available daily (call for information). Metro: Capitol South.

Lincoln Memorial
Open daily except Christmas. Free. Park Ranger in attendance 8 a.m. - midnight. Metro: Foggy Bottom/GWU.

National Cathedral
Wisconsin and Massachusetts Ave.'s NW. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 202-537-6207. No Metro service nearby.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
Free walking tour brochures and maps are available at the visitors center at 605 E St., NW. Visitors center open daily until 5 p.m. Memorial open 24-hours. Free admission. Guided tours by appointment. Metro: Judiciary Square.

U.S. Naval Observatory
Tours of the U.S. Naval Observatory have resumed, but on a limited basis. They may be cancelled at any time with little notice.
Public tours of the USNO are now offered on alternating Monday evenings from 8:30 pm until 10:00 pm. Individual tour passes must be reserved in advance for every Monday night tour. You may use the online request form link on the USNO Website, or send a FAX to the Public Affairs Office at 202-762-1489 to secure a reservation. Requests for reservations should be submitted at least 4 - 6 weeks before a scheduled tour. You must provide the names and dates-of-birth of all individuals in your party. All adult visitors will be required to present a photo ID that matches their name and date-of birth before they are admitted to the grounds. Visitors who do not have a reservation will not be admitted under any circumstances. Massachusetts Ave. at 34th St. NW. 202-653-1507. No Metro service nearby.

The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia. Headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense. Tours of the Pentagon are available to schools, educational organizations and other select groups by reservation only. Groups interested in touring the Pentagon should contact the Pentagon Tour Office at 703-695-1776. Every person 16 years or older must have a valid photo identification card (drivers license, passport, or U.S. Government ID). Metro: Pentagon.

Supreme Court
First Street and Maryland Ave. NE. Open Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. Public lectures in the Courtroom every hour on the half-hour, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except when court is in session. 202-479-3211. Metro - Capitol South or Union Station.

Treasury Department
15th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Displays of money, both real and counterfeit. All tours of the Main Treasury Building have been suspended until further notice. Please visit their "Virtual Tour" on-line to view some of the historic spaces and decorative arts. 202-622-0896. Metro: McPherson Square.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
On the National Mall near Bacon Drive and Constitution Ave. NW. Open daily 8 a.m. to midnight. Metro: Arlington Cemetery.

Washington Monument On the National Mall at 15th St. NW. The monument is open from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM, seven days a week. In order to enter the Washington Monument, tickets are required. The ticket system is administered through the National Park Reservation Service (NPRS). Reservations for the Washington Monument may be made between 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM EST by calling 1-800-967-2283 or over the internet at http://reservations.nps.gov. Metro: Smithsonian.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tours of the White House are currently being scheduled for school and youth groups grades one through 12 and organized U.S. military and veteran groups. Group requests may be submitted through one's Member of Congress. These self-guided tours are scheduled from 7:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For the most up-to-date information, call the 24-hour Visitors Office Info Line at 202-456-7041.Metro: McPherson Square.

Union Station
50 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Beautifully restored Amtrak train station, shopping, and large food court. Union Station is open from 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from Noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. 202-371-9441. Metro: Union Station.

For more information on touring Washington D.C., please visit www.dc.gov

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