Services

CONGRESS, THE WHITE HOUSE, OTHER FEDERAL BUILDINGS

U.S. Capitol
The Capitol Visitor Center, the new main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at 1st and East Capitol streets.
Hours: The Capitol Visitor Center is open to visitors from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Inauguration Day. Tours of the U.S. Capitol are conducted from 8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Visitors with official business appointments may enter the Visitor Center as early as 7:15 a.m.
http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
Please contact our office to schedule a staff guided Capitol Tour. Staff-led tours are available at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20500
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 7:30 a.m.-11a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tours may be unexpectedly canceled based on the president’s schedule.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
If you would like to visit the White House during your stay in Washington, please contact our office as far in advance as possible. Spots on White House tours are not guaranteed, especially during peak travels seasons.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing
14^th and C Streets S.W., Washington, D.C. 20228
Hours: Monday- Friday. January – March: 9 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. Extended Hours: last week of March – August 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/
You can request a tour through our office or visit the website.

Library of Congress
Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 1st St. SE, Washington, DC 20540
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s.
James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20540
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Entry after 6 p.m. is reserved for researchers, staff, and those attending special programs.) Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
John Adams Building, 2nd Street SE, between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Entry after 6 p.m. is reserved for researchers, staff, and those attending special programs.) Tuesday, Friday, Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
http://www.loc.gov/index.html
Tours can be requested through our office or by visiting the Library of Congress website.

National Archives
700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20408
Hours: March 15 – Labor Day: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Day after Labor Day - March 14: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Closed on federal holidays.
http://www.archives.gov/
Displays include the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

Pentagon
1400 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1400 (actually located in Virginia)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
http://pentagontours.osd.mil/
The tour lasts for approximately 60 minutes and follows a route that is approximately 1.5 miles long. Each tour includes the mission of the Department of Defense and each of its branches of service, and visits numerous displays that highlight and depict significant moments in military history. Please contact our office to request a tour.

State Department
2201 C St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037
Hours: Tours are conducted Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
http://www.state.gov/
Tours require reservations and are not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Strollers are not permitted.

Supreme Court
1 1^st St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20543
Hours: Open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Closed on federal holidays.
http://www.supremecourt.gov/
When the court is not in session, public lectures are held in the courtroom every hour on the half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.   

Treasury Department
15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
Hours: One-hour guided tours are available on Saturday mornings, excluding holidays, at 10 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 10:40 a.m., and 11 a.m.
http://www.treasury.gov
Ask about former Texas Congressman John Wilcox's widow and her connection to the department. One week advance registration is required and each visitor is required to provide a photo ID, name, date of birth, and social security number. Confirmed reservations are required.

United States Naval Observatory
34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Hours: Monday only: 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Gates open at 8 p.m.
http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO
The vice president’s home at the Naval Observatory is not open to the public. The Monday night sessions are limited to the first 90 visitors, so plan to arrive by 7 p.m. to ensure entry.

MEMORIALS AND CEMETERIES

Arlington National Cemetery
1 Memorial Dr., Arlington, VA 22202
Hours: Open daily; 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. (April-September), 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (October-March)
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/
Home of the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Memorial Amphitheater, the Curtis-Lee Mansion and the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft. The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is every hour at the top of the hour during the winter months and every half hour during the summer months.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Southwest Washington, D.C. 20024
http://www.nps.gov/frde/index.htm
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours a day.
National Park Service rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily and provide interpretive programs every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Jefferson Memorial
701 West Basin Dr. SW, Washington, D.C. 20242
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours a day.
http://www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm
National Park Service rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily and provide interpretive programs every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Lincoln Memorial
2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours a day.
http://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm
National Park Service rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily and provide interpretive programs every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
1964 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20024
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours a day.
http://www.nps.gov/mlkm/index.htm
National Park Service rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily and provide interpretive programs every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

U.S. Navy Memorial
701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Hours: Open 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
http://www.navymemorial.org/
This memorial was designed as an educational and heritage awareness facility for the U.S. Navy.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Washington, D.C. 20024
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours a day.
http://www.nps.gov/vive/index.htm
National Park Service rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily and provide interpretive programs every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Washington Monument
2 15^th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Hours: Closed to the public.
http://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm
The Washington Monument is closed to the public for repairs from the 2011 earthquake.

World War II Memorial
Washington, D.C. 20006
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours a day.
http://www.nps.gov/nwwm/index.htm
National Park Service rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily and provide interpretive programs every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS

The Smithsonian museums are free to the public. All are closed on Christmas Day. Some museums may have extended hours during peak tourist season (typically March-end of August).
http://www.si.edu/

Air and Space Museum: Independence Avenue at 6th Street SW
10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily

Arts and Industries: 900 Jefferson Dr. SW
Currently closed for renovation

Freer Gallery of Art: 12th Street and Jefferson Drive SW
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: Independence Avenue and 7^th Street SW
Museum: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily
Plaza: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sculpture Garden: 7:30 a.m. to dusk

National Portrait Gallery: 8th and F streets NW
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily

Renwick Gallery: 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily

Smithsonian Building Offices (The Castle): 1000 Jefferson Dr. SW
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily

National Museum of American History: 1400 Constitution Ave. NW
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily

National Museum of Natural History: 10th Street and Constitution Ave. NW
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily

Air and Space Museum’s Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA 20151
Hours: Open daily: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Closed Christmas Day.
http://airandspace.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/
The center has exhibits where you can walk among historical aircraft including Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest jet in the world and the Boeing Dash 80, the prototype of the 707, along with many more as well as the Space Shuttle Discovery.

OTHER MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES

Ford’s Theatre and Museum
511 10^th. St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Hours: Daily: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
http://www.fordstheatre.org/
Ford’s Theatre is a working theater, so tours and attractions may have limited hours based on performances. The site consists of the theatre, a museum, a learning center, and the Petersen House (where Lincoln died).
NOTE: Admission is charged.

International Spy Museum
800 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Hours: Open daily except on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Hours vary, please check website for hours during your planned visit.
http://www.spymuseum.org/
NOTE: This is a commercial museum; admission is charged.

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20566.
Hours: Vary.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/
Regular tours are conducted daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. by Friends of the Kennedy Center volunteers. Please contact our office to set up a tour. Visitors should go to tour lounge, parking level A.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
1001 F St. NW, Washington, DC 20004
Hours: Vary. Please check their website for hours during your planned visit.
http://www.madametussauds.com/Washington/Default.aspx
NOTE: This is a commercial museum; admission is charged.

Mount Vernon
3200 Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria, VA 22121
Hours: Open 365 days of the year. April 31 – August: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; March, September and October: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; November – February; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hours vary during the month of April.
http://www.mountvernon.org/
Home of George Washington.
NOTE: The Mount Vernon estate is located in Virginia. It is not located at the Mount Vernon Square Metro stop in Washington. Admission is charged.

National Aquarium
Located in the basement of the U.S. Commerce Department Building: 1401 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20230
Hours: Open daily except on Christmas: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Extended hours during the National Cherry Blossom Festival (March 20 – April 14): Sunday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
http://www.aqua.org/
NOTE: Admission is charged.

National Building Museum
401 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Building Zone attraction closes at 4 pm.
http://www.nbm.org/
NOTE: Admission is charged.

National Gallery Of Art
4^th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20565
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday: 11:00 – 6 p.m.
http://www.nga.gov/

National Geographic Museum
1145 17th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Hours: Daily: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed Christmas Day.
http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/locations/center/museum/
NOTE: Admission is charged.

United States Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Ave. SW Washington, D.C. 20024
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
http://www.usbg.gov/

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Washington, D.C. 20024
Hours: Open daily except on Yom Kippur (Sept. 14, 2013) and Christmas Day: 10 a.m. – 5:20 p.m. Extended spring hours Mondays through Fridays March 25 – June 7: 10 a.m. – 6:20 p.m.
http://www.ushmm.org/

CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20017
Hours: Open daily. April 1 – October 31: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. November 1 – March 31: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/c.osJRKVPBJnH/b.4719297/k.BF65/Home.htm
The Basilica is the largest Roman Catholic church in North America.

Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
Hours: Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (tours offered from 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.). Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (tours offered 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.). Sunday: open for services 8 a.m. – 5 p.m (tours offered 1-2:30 p.m.).
http://www.nationalcathedral.org/

SHOPPING AND DINING

Union Station
701 1^st. St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
Hours:
Retail Stores: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sunday: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Food Court: Monday – Friday: 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday:  9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sunday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Outdoor Market: April – October: Monday – Saturday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
http://www.unionstationdc.com/
Historical train station on Capitol Hill; major rail hub for Amtrak and MARC (Maryland commuter train service). Metro accessible via Union Station stop on the Red Line. Limited tour bus parking is available.

Eastern Market
225 7^th. St. SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; closed Monday.
http://www.easternmarket-dc.org
Historical market on Capitol Hill; home to delis, food counters and crafts and hobby booths. Outdoor flea and crafts market open during good weather.

NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

National Mall/downtown Washington
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/
The National Cherry Blossom Festival will run March 20-April 14, 2013. The parade is currently scheduled for April 13. The festival celebrates the city of Tokyo’s 1912 gift to Washington of 3,000 cherry trees.