Tours

Public tours of the White House are typically available from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted. Public tour requests are scheduled on a first come, first served basis and must be submitted through a Member of Congress and their Congressional Tour Coordinator. Public White House tour requests must be submitted a minimum of 21 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance of the requested tour date(s).

The Library of Congress is now offering timed-passes for visitors; visit their website. The U.S. Capitol and other federal sites in D.C. are offering limited tours.

Below is information on tours Senator Merkley’s office can assist with for the U.S. Capitol Building, the White House, Library of Congress and Bureau of Printing and Engraving.  You can find more details on these tours below and use the tour request form to submit your request.

If you are planning to travel to Washington D.C. in the future and would like to be notified if tour availability opens before your travel date, please submit a tour request form here.


 

Senator Merkley’s office can assist in coordinating tours for the U.S. Capitol Building, the White House, Library of Congress and Bureau of Printing and Engraving. You can find more details on these tours below and click the Tour Request Form to submit your request.

The U.S. Capitol Building

U.S. Capitol Dome with blue sky in the background and yellow leaves in the foreground.

Senator Merkley’s office can accommodate staff-led U.S. Capitol tours, Mondays through Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. for groups of 15 or fewer. Staff-led U.S. Capitol tours are dependent on staff availability and require advance notice. 

The office can also provide you with passes to the Senate Visitor’s Gallery to observe business in the Senate chamber when the Senate is in session.

Public tours of the U.S. Capitol Building can also be arranged through the Capitol Visitors Center – commonly referred to as the CVC – Mondays through Saturdays, 8:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.  Tour passes are required. For more information, or to schedule a tour directly with the CVC, please go to the Capitol Visitor Center’s website.

 

The White House

White House with American flag flying on top, and a running fountain and red flowers in the foreground.

Tours of the White House typically require 90-day advance notice with submission of security information, but six-month notice is strongly recommended.

The White House advises that constituents submit their request through only one congressional office. Submissions from multiple congressional offices will likely be denied. These self-guided tours occur 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis approximately two weeks in advance of the requested date.

Senator Merkley’s staff encourage White House tour request submissions as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. Due to high demand in the spring and summer seasons, requests are recommended to be submitted with as much advance notice as possible.  Oregonians will be notified if the tour has been approved approximately two weeks before the scheduled date of the tour. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation or rescheduling.

Please contact Senator Merkley’s Tour Coordinator at 202-224-3753 or by email at tours@merkley.senate.gov  to request a tour of the White House.

*For other questions about the White House tour, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions tab included on the webpage.

 

Library of Congress

U.S. Library of Congress building with large dome. Clouds and sun peeking through visible above and behind the building.

Senator Merkley’s office can request reserved tickets for public tours at the Library of Congress.  Tours are conducted Mondays through Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The Library of Congress asks that groups over ten or more make a reservation for a special tour and arrive 15-20 minutes before public tours. For more information about touring the  Library visit the Library of Congress website.

 

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Bureau of Printing and Engraving - white stone building.

Senator Merkley’s office can request reserved tickets for the Bureau of Printing and Engraving.  Please note reservations are required for school groups.  Tours are available Mondays through Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Tickets can also be obtained at the booth on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th St.) free of cost. Tickets are first come first serve. The Bureau of Printing and Engraving is closed weekends and federal holidays. For more information, visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Website.

 

Kennedy Center for Performing Arts

Blue skies with few clouds over the white stone John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for The Performing Arts.

Senator Merkley’s office can request congressional tours of the Kennedy Center, DC’s center for Performing Arts. Free tours of the Kennedy Center are available to the general public weekdays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and weekends, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Congressional tours are available daily at 9:30 a.m. and on weekdays at 4 p.m. Kennedy Center Tours typically last from 1 hour – 1 hour 30 min. After the tour, you would have the opportunity to stay for one of their free Millennium stage concerts, which are offered every day at 6:00 p.m. For more information about Kennedy Center tours, visit their website.

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