Budget Savers

Any vacation can end up costing thousands of dollars, but one of the terrific things about Washington, DC, is that many of the sites are open to the public at no charge. The listings below are divided by those attractions with:

Click here to fill out and submit a Tour Request Form through my office.

African American Civil War Museum
(202) 667-2667
1925 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC 20001

Hours and Admission:
Tuesday - Friday: 10am-6:30pm
Saturday: 10am-4pm
Sunday: Noon-4pm
No admission charge

The only memorial in the country dedicated to “the Colored Troops in the Civil War”. The museum contains photographs, newspaper articles, and replicas of period clothing, uniforms and weaponry to help understand the role of African Americans throughout the Civil War.

American Art Museum (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-7970
8th and F Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Hours and Admission:
Open Daily: 11:30AM-7PM
Closed on December 25
No admission charged

America's first federal art collection is dedicated to American art. It includes sculpture, photographs, folk art, contemporary craft, paintings and decorative arts. You will find works by Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper and many others.

Arlington House (Custis-Lee Mansion)
(703) 235-1530
Located on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery

Hours and Admission:
Generally 9:30am-4:30pm, some extended hours in the summer. Check the Arlington House website for today's hours.
closed January 1, December 25
No admission charged; reservations are not required, but groups are limited to 25 at one time.

This was the home of Robert E. Lee and his family for 30 years, it was originally built by George Washington Parke Custis as a memorial to his step-grandfather George Washington. It was in this house that Robert E. Lee wrote his resignation letter from the U.S. Army on April 20, 1861.

The home is currently empty of furnishings in preparation for a major restoration and rehabilitation project, which began in the summer of 2007. The restoration is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia
(877) 907-8585

Hours and Admission:
8am-7pm April 1-September 30;
8am-5pm October 1-March 31
No tickets needed for self-guided tours; tickets required for tour buses, which operate throughout the day

The somber sight of hundreds and hundreds of white crosses lined up across a green lawn is a striking visual and brings into sharper focus the debt of gratitude owed to our nation's military heroes. It’s no surprise that it’s called "our nation’s most hallowed ground." Final resting place of President John Kennedy and thousands of American servicemen and women. The Changing of the Guard occurs on the hour each hour October through March, then occurs every half-hour April through September. Tour bus services operate throughout the day; tickets can be purchased at the cemetery.

The Awakening (Sculpture)
National Harbor
National Harbor, MD 20745 (Prince George's County, MD)
Off National Plaza street, near the Marina

This 70+ foot long aluminum statue of a giant embedded in the earth, struggling to free himself, was created in 1980 by J. Seward Johnson Jr. It was part of the International Sculpture Conference Exhibition.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
(202) 526-8300
400 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20017

Hours and Admission:
No admission charged, donations accepted.
Groups of 15 or more are asked to make a reservation.

Guided tours are offered Monday-Saturday at 9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Sunday at 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm.

No tours are offered on Thanksgiving or December 25.

Information on mass and other services can be found on the Shrine's website.

This important Catholic shrine dedicated to the patron saint of the United States, located on land donated by Catholic University, was consecrated in 1959. It has an architecture mix of Romanesque and Byzantine.

 

Congressional Cemetery
(202) 543-0539
1801 E Street SE, Washington DC 20003

Hours and Admission:
The Cemetery is always open during daylight hours for self-guided walking tours.
Free, docent-led tours are held every Saturday, April-October at 11am. Docent-led tours begin at the cemetery's front gate.
No admission charged

Congressional cemetery is the final resting place for 19 senators and 71 representatives with monuments honoring 120 other members of Congress who died in office. The website lists a number of self-guided tours that can be taken at the cemetery, including Civil War, Native Americans and noteworthy women.  

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Museum
(202) 628-1776
1776 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006

Hours and Admission:

9:30am-4pm Monday-Friday
9am-5pm Saturday
Closed Sundays
No admission charged

Self-guided and guided tours available in this 1910 beaux arts building, which emphasizes the role of women throughout American history. Exhibits include everyday items out of America's past (generally up to 1840), including a four-sided mousetrap that guillotines its captures. A Touch Area is available for children. You can also tour period rooms. The DAR also has searchable databases in its library, including records of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

 

Einstein Memorial
2102 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
Located near the intersection of Henry Bacon Drive, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
No admission charged

This memorial to Albert Einstein gives children an invitation to climb into his lap. It is located in an elm and holly grove in the southwest corner of the National Academy of Sciences grounds. The sculpture depicts Einstein holding a paper with mathematical equations that summarize his three most important scientific contributions: photoelectric effect, theory of general relativity and the equivalence of energy and matter.

Emancipation Statue at Lincoln Park
East Capitol and 11th Street, NE, Washington, DC
No admission charged

Dedicated in 1876, the statue was paid for solely with funds donated by freed slaves. It is located in Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill. Lincoln Park was the first site to bear the name of the martyred President. The statue was unveiled on April 14, 1876, the 11th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination. It depicts Lincoln holding the Emancipation Proclamation before a kneeling black man, who is modeled after Archer Alexander, the last person captured under the Fugitive Slave Act.

Federal Reserve Garden
20th and C Street, NW, Washington, DC

Located at 20th and C Streets, NW in Washington, DC, these gardens feature a fountain and native grasses.

Folger Shakespeare Library
(202) 544-4600
201 East Capitol Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003

Hours and Admission:
10am-5pm Monday-Saturday
Noon-5pm Sunday. Closed
Closed Thanksgiving and December 25.
No admission charged to visit building or exhibitions; evening performances and programs are ticketed events.

Located on Capitol Hill, this world-class research center on Shakespeare is also home to an extensive collection of Shakespeare materials and other rare Renaissance books, manuscripts and art.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
(202) 426-6841
400 West Basin Drive SW, Washington, D.C. 20242
Nearest intersection is West Basin Drive SW & Ohio Drive SW

Hours and Admission:
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers are available from 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged

This monument to our 32nd President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is located along the Cherry Tree Walk at the western edge of the Tidal Basin. It is a sequence of four outdoor rooms - one devoted to each of FDR’s four terms in office. The sculptures and artwork throughout the rooms strive to provide an accurate depiction of FDR, including a 10-foot statue of him seated in a wheeled chair.

Freedom Plaza
Corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

Freedom Plaza is named to honor the memory of Martin Luther King and his contribution to civil rights in the U.S. On January 15, 1988, a time capsule containing objects belonging to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was buried here. It will be opened on January 15, 2008, twenty years after the burial. Objects include Dr. King's robe, his Bible and other memorabilia.

Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-4880
Freer: 12th and Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, DC 20560
Sackler: 1050 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20560

Hours and Admission:
Open Daily: 10AM-5:30PM
Closed on December 25
No admission charged

These two Smithsonian Museums are connected by an underground exhibition space. They feature wide-ranging collections of American, Egyptian and Asian art works. Objects include paintings, manuscripts, ceramics and lacquerwork, precious metals, calligraphy, glass and earthenware.

George Washington Masonic Memorial
(703) 683-2007
101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, VA 22301

Hours and Admission:
Open daily 9am-5pm
Guided tours available daily at 9:30am, 11am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm
Admission charged. Groups of ten or more are asked to make a reservation two weeks in advance.

The Memorial is located in Alexandria, just a few miles from Mount Vernon. It stands atop Shuters Hill on King Street. This memorial was built to honor George Washington, who is the pre-eminent member of the Masonic fraternity.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-4674
Corner of 7th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20560

Hours and Admission:
Open Daily: 10am-5:30pm
Museum Plaza: 7:30am-5:30pm
Museum Garden: 7:30am-dusk
No admission charged; donations accepted

This Smithsonian museum features international modern and contemporary art. Daily tours conducted by docents. The Sculpture Garden is located on the National Mall and contains more than 60 large-scale works of art from Auguste Rodin, Alexander Calder, Henry Moore and others.

House of the Temple (Masonic)
(202) 232-3579
1733 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009

Hours and Admission:
Open Monday-Thursday, closed Friday-Sunday.
June-August: 9am-4pm.
September-May: 10am-4pm
No admission charged. Groups of ten or more are asked to make an advanced reservation.

The House of the Temple, a Masonic temple modeled after the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is located in the Adams-Morgan section of Washington, DC. This is considered the first public library in the city. Displays include artifacts from Burl Ives, Robert Burns and J. Edgar Hoover.

Islamic Center of Washington
2551 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC

Hours and Admission:
Times for prayers can be found on the mosque's website.

When it opened in 1957, the Islamic Center of Washington was the largest Muslim place of worship in the Western Hemisphere. Many high-profile dignitaries, including several presidents, have visited the mosque.

Jefferson Memorial
(202) 426-6841
16 East Basin Drive, SW Washington, DC 200024

Hours and Admission:
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers are available from 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged

The monument to our 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson, resembles the Roman Parthenon with marble steps, a portico and a high dome. The walls are inscribed with Jefferson's ideas and philosophies. The memorial and the nearby Tidal Basin are surrounded by Japanese cherry trees donated by the city of Tokyo in 1912.

Korean War Memorial
(202) 426-6841
Located Southeast of the Lincoln Memorial, south of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.

Hours and Admission:
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers are available from 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged

The design of this memorial gives visitors a feel for what was faced by soldiers serving in Korea from 1950 to 1953. With 19 larger than life-size statues representing a squad on patrol, a long black granite wall with photographic images, and a Pool of Remembrance, the memorial provides a stirring tribute to one million and a half veterans who served in the Korean War.

LDS Washington DC Temple and Visitors' Center
(301) 587-0144
9900 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, MD

Hours and Admission:
Visitors' Center 10am-9pm daily
No admission charged for visitors' center; LDS-issued credential necessary for entrance to the Temple.

This landmark, which features regularly in traffic reports in local news, is a six-spire building of Alabama white marble. It was completed in 1974. The temple is only open to credentialed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but an on-site Visitors' Center features interactive exhibits and videos along with a reproduction of the Christus statue. The Visitors' Center also hosts frequent concerts and lectures throughout the year.

Lincoln Memorial
(202) 426-6841
2 Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW Washington, DC 20002

Hours and Admission:
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers are available from 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged

A solemn remembrance of the legacy of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, this is a must for Civil War buffs. It is located at the west end of the National Mall, and resembles a Greek Doric temple. Its 36 columns represent the states of the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. It has been the site of many historic gatherings and speeches, including 1963's "I Have A Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House
(202) 673-2402
1318 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

Hours and Admission:
Open daily 9am-5pm

Closed January 1, Thanksgiving, December 25
No admission charged

The home of Bethune, a tireless educator who was the 15th of 17 children of former slaves, is a National Historic Site. An advisor and close friend of President Franklin and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, she was the only woman present at the founding of the United Nations. She was dedicated to educating all about the accomplishments and needs of African Americans.

Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial at Lincoln Park
East Capitol and 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC
Open sunrise-sunset
No admission charged

This is the first memorial in Washington, DC, to honor a black American. The 17-foot-high bronze statue depicts Bethune handing off her legacy to two children, who represent the next generation of African Americans.

Metropolitan AME Church
(202) 331-1426
1518 M Street, NW, Washington, DC
Services held Sunday 7:45am and 11am

The red-brick Gothic-style church, built by black artisans in 1886, is the oldest continuously black-owned property in downtown Washington, DC. Notable parshioners have included Frederick Douglass and educator Francis Cardoza.

National Air and Space Museum on the Mall (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-2214
6th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20560

Hours and Admission:
10am-5:30pm daily, though hours sometimes extended to 7:30 pm during peak-summer months, check website for today's hours.
Closed December 25
No admission charged; tickets to IMAX theatre must be purchased

With hundreds of historic aviation and space artifacts on display, including space capsules from America's first astronauts, Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, and the Wright Brothers aircraft, Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit, this museum is among the most popular in the country. You can explore the history of flight, how things fly, learn about the effort to land a human on the moon, experience a flight simulator and many other interesting subjects. The museum also has a five-story IMAX theater.

National Air and Space Museum-Udvar-Hazy Center (Smithsonian)
(703) 572-4118
14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA 20151

Hours and Admission:
10am-5:30pm daily, though hours sometimes extended during peak-summer months, check website for today's hours.
Closed December 25
No admission charged for museum, but IMAX tickets must be purchased. Fee for parking.

One of the most recent additions to the Smithsonian museum system, this is a companion facility to the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. With the space provided in the Boeing Aviation Hanger in Chantilly, Virginia, thousands of aviation and space artifacts that could not be exhibited in the D.C. building are on display. It features three levels with aircraft hanging from an arched ceiling. Exhibits include the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the Boeing Dash 80, the Enola Gay, the Mobile Quarantine Unit used by the Apollo 11 crew, the Gemini VII space capsule and other aircraft. The space shuttle Enterprise is the centerpiece of the museum.

National Archives
(866) 272-6272
700 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408
Between 7th and 9th Streets, NW

Hours and Admission:
10am-5:30pm Daily
Closed Thanksgiving Day and December 25
No admission charged. Those wishing to make an advance reservation can do so online for a small transaction fee.

Millions of documents are created in the course of government business, but less than three percent are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept forever. It is in the National Archives that you will find some of those documents, including the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution, which are in display in the Exhibit Hall. You can also make arrangements to visit the Research Room to conduct your own research in the textual and microfilm records kept at the National Archives. You can view what documents are available here. The Archives were collected starting in 1926. While no tickets are needed, the lines form early during spring and summer months.

National Cryptologic Museum
(301) 688-5849
Located off Maryland Route 32 at Canine Road, Fort George G. Meade, MD

Hours and Admission:
9am-4pm Monday-Friday; 10am-2pm 1st and 3rd Saturdays
No admission charged

The only public museum in the intelligence community, the National Cryptologic Museum gives the public a peek into codemarking and codebreaking. Exhibits feature devices used in the Civil War, the Cold War and both World Wars. The museum is located at NSA Headquarters in Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

National Gallery of Art
(202) 737-4215
6th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20565
10am-5pm Monday-Saturday; 11am-6pm Sunday; closed January 1 and December 25

Hours and Admission:
Monday–Saturday: 10:00am–5:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am–6:00pm
Closed December 25 and January 1
No admission charged

One of the nation's premier art galleries with two halls--one devoted to classic painters, and the other with more modern works. The collection began in 1937 with a gift collection from financier Andrew W. Mellon. That collection formed the nucleus of one of the world’s most outstanding galleries. In the West Building, you can find works from European masters like van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet and Rembrandt along with the only da Vinci on public display in the U.S. The East Building focuses more on modern and contemporary works.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
E Street between 4th and 5th Streets, NW

Hours and Admission:
Memorial is open 24 hours
No admission charged

Maps may be downloaded for self-guided tours; group tours may be arranged through the Memorial's website.

 

National Law Enforcment Visitors Center
(202) 737-3213
400 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Corner of 7th And D Street, NW

 

Hours and Admission:
Monday-Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday: 12 noon to 5 pm
No admission charged.

Somber memorial that honors all of our country’s law enforcement personnel. Wall contains the names of the more than 17,500 officers who have killed in the line of duty beginning in 1792. At an annual candlelight vigil held each year during National Police Week in May, the names of officers who have fallen in the last year are added. Visitors Center highlights the Memorial and contains more than 30 exhibits and an interactive video kiosk. Also display cases with mementos left at the Memorial.

National Museum of African Art (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-4600
950 Independence Avenue, Sw, Washington, DC

Hours and Admission:
9am-5pm weekdays; 10am-5pm Saturday; 12-5pm Sunday

The collection at this museum features artistic expressions from ancient to contemporary Africa, including ceramics, textiles, furniture, tools, masks, figures and musical instruments as well as traditional art forms of painting and sculpture.

National Museum of American History (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-1000
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

Hours and Admission:
10am-5:30pm daily; closed December 25
No admission charged

This museum, recently renovated, features a state-of-the-art gallery for viewing its most famous exhibit: the Star Spangled Banner that served as inspiration for Francis Scott Key. Among other exhibits you will find Mister Rogers' sweater, Kermit the Frog and First Ladies Exhibit. The museum explores the social, political, cultural, scientific and military history of our country.

"Treasures of American History," a collection of more than 150 objects from the museum, are on display at the National Air and Space Museum during construction at the American History Museum.

National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-1000
1000 Constitution Ave., NW in Washington, D.C. 20004
10th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW

Hours and Admission:
10am-5:30pm daily, though hours sometimes extended during peak-summer months, check website for today's hours.
No admission charged for entrance to museum, although tickets are required for IMAX theatre.

One of the first Smithsonian Museums opened on the National Mall, it houses exhibits focused on the natural world. That includes geology, dinosaurs, animal life, plants and insects. Among the displays you will find the Hope Diamond, a T-rex dinosaur display, an Egyptian mummy and Mammal Hall. There is also an IMAX Theater, which shows some of the films in 3-D.

National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-1000
4th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

Hours and Admission:
10am-5:30pm daily,
Closed December 25
No admission charged

One of the Smithsonian's newest museums on the Mall, this one specializes in exhibits that celebrate and commemorate the ideas and experiences in Native life and history. Its mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of the Native cultures of the Western Hemisphere. The exhibits include materials from North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, and include clothing, baskets, textiles, precious metals, featherwork, ceramics and other objects that are associated with Native life.

National Museum of the Marine Corps
(877) 635-1775
18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, VA 22172

Hours and Admission:
9am-5pm daily; closed December 25
No admission charged

Opened in November 2006 in Quantico, Virginia, this museum provides interactive exhibits and innovative technology to provide a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines. Its design evokes the image of the flag-raisers at Iwo Jima, and celebrates more than 230 years of Marine Corps history. The museum is divided into sections that focus on various wars and events: World War II, Vietnam, Korean and the Global War on Terrorism are just a few of the galleries.

National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-1000
8th and F Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20001

Hours and Admission:
Open Daily 11:30AM-7PM
Closed on December 25
No admission charged

Specializes in American art, history and biography , including works by Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper. It contains visual arts, performing arts and new media to portray individuals who have shaped our country's culture. Collections include American presidents, George Washington, Colonial America and the American Revolution. The America's Presidents exhibit is the nation's only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House.

National Postal Museum (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-1000
8th and F Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20001

Hours and Admission:
Open Daily 11:30AM-7PM
Closed on December 25
No admission charged

You will find one of the world’s largest collections of stamps and philatelic materials. The museum has postal history material that pre-dates stamps, vehicles that were used to transport the mail, mailboxes and mailbags, postal uniforms and equipment. One item of interest is the Jackie Robinson stamp. Visitors learn how the process of mail delivery has evolved and the importance of letters in our history.

National Vigilance Park
(301) 688-5849
Located off Maryland Route 32 at Canine Road, Fort George G. Meade, MD

Hours and Admission:
9am-4pm Monday-Friday; 10am-2pm 1st and 3rd Saturdays
No admission charged

Located next to the National Cryptologic Museum in Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, this park showcases two reconnaissance aircraft that were used for secret missions for the United States.

National Zoological Park (National Zoo) (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-4888
3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008

Hours and Admission:
October 1-March 14: 9am-4pm
March 15-September 30: 9am-6pm
Hours are subject to change due to special events. Please consult the National Zoo's website for today's hours.
No admission charged, parking for fee.

The National Zoo is more than just a place to see wild animals. In the heart of the nation's capital, you can see giant pandas, cheetahs, zebra, bears, monkeys and gorillas. More than 2,000 individual animals of nearly 400 species are on display, including giant pandas: Tian Tian, Mei Ziang and their cub, Tai Shan. If you visit the Zoo in early morning hours before the buildings open, the animals are more active, and you can watch zookeepers feed and care for the animals.
 

Old Stone House Garden
3051 M Street, NW, Washington, DC

Hours and Admission:
Open daily 11am-6pm
Closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1.
The garden is open during daylight hours.
No admission charged.

This English garden in Georgetown, on the site of the oldest surviving building in the Washington area, is managed by the National Park Service and features fruit trees and flowers.

Renwick Gallery (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-7970
Pennsylvania and 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006

Hours and Admission:
10am-5:30pm daily; closed December 25
No admission charged

This National Historic Landmark is part of the Smithsonian Museum collection. It features American crafts and decorative arts from the 19th to the 21st century.

St. John's Episcopal Church
(202) 347-8766
1525 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

Hours and Admission:
Monday-Friday 9am-3pm
Tours are offered Sundays immediately following an 11am service
Tours are offered after a 10:30am service, June to Labor Day weekend.
No admission charged

This small yellow building on 16th and H Streets, NW, just across Lafayette Park from the White House, is known as "The Church of Presidents." From 1816 to the present, every person who has served as President of the United States has attended a regular or occasional service. Pew 54 is the President's Pew.

Theodore Roosevelt Island
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Northbound lanes between Roosevelt Bridge and Key Bridge
Arlington, VA 22209

Hours and Admission:
Island is open 6am-10pm
No admission charged

This wooded 88.5 acre sanctuary in the Potomac River is dedicated to our conservation-minded 26th President. Nature trails run throughout the island; hidden deep inside the island is a large memorial statue of Roosevelt. One of Roosevelt’s greatest legacies was his dedication to conservation. The island is only accessible over a footbridge from the Virginia bank of the Potomac River. No bicycles are permitted, but there are plenty of walking opportunities.

U.S. Botanic Garden
(202) 225-8333
100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20001

Hours and Admission:
10am-5pm daily
No admission charged

The U.S. Botanic Garden is located on the National Mall across from the U.S. Capitol along First Street, SW. It features Bartholdi Park, the National Garden and the newly-restored Conservatory. Approximately 4,000 plants are on display.

U.S. Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial)
(703) 289-2500 for scheduled events
Memorial is located at the intersection of Route 50 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway, near Rossyln, VA

Hours and Admission:
Memorial is open 6am-midnight
No admission charged

During the summer, the U.S. Marine Corps holds Sunset Parades at the memorial on Tuesday evenings. The memorial plaza is closed to the public from 6pm-9 pm on Tuesdays in June and July and from 5:30pm-8:30pm on August 5 and August 12.

The bronze replica of the iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning photo taken shortly by news photographer Joe Rosenthal after the Battle of Iwo Jima commemorates the soldiers of the U.S. Marine Corps who paid the ultimate price for their country. The base of the memorial contains the names and dates of every principal Marine Corps engagement since the founding of the Corps.  You can also enjoy the nearby Netherlands Carillon.

U.S. National Arboretum, including National Bonsai and Penjing Museum
(202) 245-2726
3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC

Hours and Admission:
Arboretum
Open daily 8am-5pm
Closed December 25

Visitors Center
Open Daily 8am-4:30pm, except for federal holidays November through February
The visitors center is closed federal holidays November-February

Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Open daily 10am-4pm, except for federal holidays November through February
No admission charged to any museum.

Over 14,000 different species, varieties and cultivars are displayed on this campus in northeast Washington, D.C. You will find Asian plant collections, dogwoods, holly, magnolia, bonsai, azaleas and many other varieties.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
(202) 426-6841
5 Henry Bacon Dr NW, Washington, DC 20037

Hours and Admission:
Memorial is open 24 hours, National Park Service Rangers available 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged

"The Wall" is a somber tribute to those men and women who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. It honors those who died by listing their names on the Memorial Wall, a sleek expanse of black granite that sinks into the ground in a V-shape. The award-winning design by Maya Lin was selected from nearly 1,500 entries. Items are frequently left at The Wall by family members, friends and comrades of those who served in the war. You can locate specific names on The Wall through a directory placed at the west end of the memorial.

Nearby are two additional statues: The Three Soldiers and the Women’s Memorial that honor contributions made by those who fought in the Vietnam War.

Washington National Cathedral
(202) 537-6200
3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016

Hours and Admission:
Monday-Friday: 10am-5:30pm; Tours begin at 10:15am
Saturday: 1-am-4:00pm; Tours begin at 10:15am
Sunday: Worship services at 8am, Guided tours at 1pm.
Admission charged; Sunday tours are free.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul took 83 years to build. It has been the site of a number of Presidential funerals, with more than 150 people interred (including Helen Keller and Woodrow Wilson).

World War II Memorial
(202) 426-6841
1750 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20006

Hours and Admission:
Memorial is open 24 hours, National Park Service Rangers are available 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged

The National World War II Memorial commemorates the sacrifice and celebrates the victory of the of the WWII generation. It honors the 16 million who served, those at home who supported the war, and the more than 400,000 who died in the conflict. The Freedom Wall contains 4,448 stars, one for every 100 Americans who died in WWII.
NO ADMISSION CHARGED; TOUR RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Bureau of Engraving and Printing
(877) 874-4114 or (202) 874-8888
14th and C Streets, SW, Washington, DC 20228

Hours and Admission:
9am-2pm Monday-Friday; extended hours in summer months; closed federal holidays
No admission charged.

Tickets/reservations are only required March-August; contact my office for assistance. Reservations should be made at least one month in advance of your visit, but cannot be guaranteed. If you do not have a reservation, you can pick-up same-day tickets at the ticket booth on Raoul Wallenberg Place; the booth opens at 8:00 am Monday-Friday. If you are visiting between September and February, tickets/reservations are not needed.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is responsible for the design, engraving and printing the money that we use every day. During a tour of the facility, you will see millions of dollars being printed - from the blank sheets of paper right through to bills ready for your wallet. The Bureau was first established in 1862; although printing, producing and examination technologies are up-to-date, engravers still use some of the same traditional tools that have been used for over 125 years.

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
(202) 416-8340 - Visitor Information Line
2700 F Street NW, Washington DC 20566

Hours and Admission:
Tours 10am-5pm weekdays
10am-1pm weekends
No admission charged for tours; tickets required for most performances

Ballet, jazz, symphony, opera and theatre combine in this center, established by an Act of Congress in 1958. Its artistic mandate is to present a wide variety of classical and contemporary performances.

National Museum of the United States Navy
(202) 433-4882
Building 76, 805 Kidder Breese SE, Washington, DC 20374-5060

Hours and Admission:
Monday-Friday: 9am-4pm
Weekends: 10am-5pm
Closed Thanksgiving, December 24, 25, January 1.
No admission charged, but appointment required

Located at the Washington Navy Yard, this is the official history program of the U.S. Navy and is a great research resource about Naval history. It contains displays on Navy ships, submarines, and various wars in which the Navy has played a role. Artifacts from Admiral Richard Byrd’s Polar Expedition, uniforms and weapons. For safety reasons, please do not use public transportation to get to the Museum; plenty of parking is available inside the Navy Yard.

The Pentagon
(703) 697-1776 (Pentagon Tours Office)
Arlington, VA

Hours and Admission:
Monday-Friday 9am-3pm
No admission fee, but reservations required through the Pentagon Tours website

Guided tours of the Pentagon are available and reservations must be made in advance. A tour can be booked as early as 90 days in advance but no later than fourteen 14 days before your desired tour date. Requests for dates within 13 days of a desired date or more than 90 days in advance will not be accepted.

Please review the Pentagon's tour guidelines and security information before requesting a tour.

As the headquarters of the Department of Defense, the Pentagon, is one of the largest office buildings in the world and houses approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees. Its unique five-sided construction makes it one of the most recognizable landmarks in the country. The Pentagon conducts limited one-hour public tours, which must be arranged through my office.

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
(202) 488-0400
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024

Hours and Admission:
10am-5:30pm daily; closed Yom Kippur and December 25
Free timed tickets are required and are available on-site; tickets can be purchased online for a small transaction fee.

During World War II, approximately six million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. The Holocaust Museum is America's memorial to those who were killed. Its goal is to stimulate visitors to confront hatred, prevent genocide, promote human dignity and strengthen democracy. Carefully-crafted exhibits carry stark reminders of what happened during the Holocaust. While this is a somber museum, it is an educational and personal experience that is unforgettable.

U.S. Supreme Court
(202) 479-3211
1 First Street, NE, Washington, DC

Hours and Admission:
Monday-Friday 9am-4pm
Closed weekends and federal holidays.
No admission charged.

You can visit the Supreme Court building and tour portions of the interior without a reservation. We can schedule a congressional reservation (for up to six people), offered only at 12:30pm with check-in at 12:15pm. The tour includes a 30-minute lecture held in the Supreme Court Chambers, on days when the Court is not in session. The same lecture is offered to the general public every hour on the half-hour, 9:30am-3:30pm Monday-Friday. However, court business may conflict with the schedule, so please check the tour telephone line for updates. Contact my office for additional information.

The cornerstone of the U.S. Supreme Court building was laid in 1932, with the building completed in 1935. It was the first time in our country’s history that the nation’s highest court had its own building, and worth noting that it was done for less than what Congress funded and money was returned to the Treasury. Initially the court met in the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City; later in Chambers provided in the U.S. Capitol. The court is in session October through April. Courtroom seats are available on a first come first served basis (every hour on the half-hour).

Washington Monument
2 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20024

Hours and Admission:
9am-5pm daily
Summer hours 9am-10pm (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Closed July 4 and December 25
No admission charged

Tickets for the Washington Monument are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8:30 AM each morning at the Washington Monument Lodge, located on 15th street, between Madison and Jefferson Drives. Tickets may also be purchased in advance from the National Park Service website for a small fee.

The 555-foot monument to our 1st President, George Washington, is the world's tallest stone structure. Dedicated in 1885, it is shaped like an Egyptian obelisk and took 40 years to build. The 50 flags that surround the base of the monument represent the 50 states.
The White House

Tuesday-Saturday; closed Sundays and Mondays 
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.

Hours and Admission:
Tours are available Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30am to 11:30am
Friday-Saturady, 7:30am - 1:30pm
No admission charged.

Please note that while my office is able to assist you with scheduling a tour, there are times when tours may be canceled without prior notice from the WHite House.

As of July 1, 2015, the White House lifted its longstanding camera and photo ban on public tours.  Please see the following information provided from the White House:

 

  1. Why is the White House lifting the ban: Smartphone technology and the internet have revolutionized photography and how people share their photographs.  The White House wants guests to be able to keep the memories of their visit here for a lifetime and share them with their family and friends. The White House is using the hashtag, #WhiteHouseTour

  2. What type of cameras will be allowed: Phones and compact cameras with a lens no longer than 3 inches (stills only) are permitted inside as long as their use does not interfere with other guests’ enjoyment of the tour.  

  3. What is prohibited: Video cameras including any action camcorders, cameras with detachable lenses, tablets, tripods, monopods and camera sticks are not permitted. Talking or texting on cellular phones is not permitted while on the tour.

For more information, please visit: www.whitehouse.gov

 

The White House offers self-guided tours to patrons on a first-come-first-served basis. Reservations are required to tour the White House. Please contact my office for assistance in securing a tour reservation for your party. Upon request, my office will be asked to provide the White House with security information about each member of your party (including children).. Due to limited availability, it is highly recommended that tour requests be submitted as early as possible. Requests can be submitted up to three (3) months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. If your party requests a visit that is less than 21 days away, the White House will not approve the tour request.

 

The White House Visitors Office 24-Hour Hotline at (202) 456-7041.

Every President since John Adams has lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, one of the most famous addresses in the world. It is also the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public. President George Washington oversaw construction of the building, but never lived in it. The White House survived a fire set by British troops in 1814 and another fire in the West Wing in 1929. There are 132 rooms, 35 bathroom and six levels, with 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, eight staircases and three elevators.

While it’s now known as The White House (officially given by Theodore Roosevelt in 1901), it has also been known as the President’s Palace, the President’s House, and the Executive Mansion. Self-guided tours include the East Room and the Blue Room.

A visit to the White House Visitors Center, located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets, is also a great stop and will greatly enhance your tour experience.

NO ADMISSION CHARGED; TOUR RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED

Library of Congress
(202) 707-8000
101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, DC

Hours and Admission:

8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Saturday

No admission charged.

 

Tours scheduled by congressional offices occur Monday-Friday at 9:45am, 11:45am and 1:45pm.  Public tours of the library are also offered Monday-Saturday and no reservation is needed. 

Contact my office for further reservation information.

 

Home of the Congressional Archives, the Library of Congress consists of three buildings: the Adams, the Thomas Jefferson and the James Madison. The Jefferson Building is named for 3rd President Thomas Jefferson, who, in 1814, sold his personal library of 6,487 books to the library to rebuild the library’s collection which was destroyed when the British burned the Capitol during the War of 1812. It is the most ornate of the buildings and is home to the spectacular Reading Room; public and congressional tours are conducted daily. The other buildings are open to the public and researchers.

The lobby of the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress is ornate and remarkable. The Great Hall is constructed of white Italian marble with a stucco ceiling accented with 23 karat gold leaf. A tour of this building won't leave you disappointed!

U.S. Capitol

(202) 226-8000 Automated visitors' information line

To schedule a tour, call (202) 224-6142 to schedule a tour through my congressional office or fill out the Tour Request Form.

 

Hours and Admission:
8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Saturday (including most federal holidays)

No admission charged.

Our office offers staff-guided tours at 10:00 and 2:00 every weekday, though we are more than happy to adjust those times to your schedule. With at least 21 days’ advance notice, we are also able to reserve passes on Saturdays.

 

The U.S. Capitol Guide Service also offers tours. You can book a tour online at Visit The Capitol or you can pick up same-day tickets in the Capitol Visitors Center. Tours operate Monday through Saturday, 9 AMto 3:30 PM.  Please be aware of security guidelines and prohibited items in the U.S. Capitol.

In advance of a Capitol tour, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society's website offers a wealth of information about the Capitol's art and exhibits such as the National Statuary Hall Collection, Capitol cooridor murals painted by Allyn Cox, and the murals lining the Rotunda to compliment your tour.

NO ADMISSION CHARGED; DONATIONS ACCEPTED

Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site
(703) 746-4848
4301 West Braddock Road Alexandria, Virginia 22304

Hours and Admission:
Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: Noon-5pm
Closed Monday
No admssion charged, but donations accepted.

Fort Ward is the best-preserved of the Union forts and batteries used to protect Washington, D.C. during the Civil War. It provides interpretive programs, tours, videos and living history activities.

Franciscan Monastery Gardens
(202) 526-6800
1400 Quincy Street, NW, Washington, DC 20017

Hours and Admission:

Monastery Tours

Guided tours are offered by reservation only.
Monday – Saturday 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Sunday 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

No admission charged; donations accepted.

 

Garden tours

Guided Garden Tours are every Saturday during the summer at 11am and noon.
Large groups wishing to visit the gardens are asked to make a reservation.  Smaller groups may visit without a reservation.
Gardens are open daily to the public.
9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

The Franciscan Monstery, located near the Brookland Metro stop (Red Line), is open daily for those wishing to visit the site, tour the catacombs or simply sit or walk in its gardens.

National Museum of Health & Medicine (Walter Reed Army Hospital)
(301) 319-3312
2500 Linden Lane Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Hours and Admission:
10am-5:30pm daily; closed December 25
No admission charged; donations accepted

This museum, which dates back to Civil War, serves is a center for collection of specimens for research in military medicine and surgery. You will find curious medical instruments and unusual anatomical artifacts as well as an exhibit on the development and progression of the microscope. There is a Civil War exhibit, "To Bind Up The Nation's Wounds: Medicine During the Civil War."

Sewall-Belmont House
(202) 546-1210
144 Constitution Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002

Hours and Admission:
Tours of the museum are offered Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Visitors can pre-register for a tour at the Sewall-Belmont House website.
No admission charged, but donations accepted.

The Sewall-Belmont House, designated as a national monument by President Obama in April of 2016, was the home of Equal Rights Amendment author Alice Paul and served as the headquarters for the historic National Woman's Party. It is the only museum in DC dedicated to exhibits that show the fight for the American woman's right to vote. It is located on Capitol Hill next to the Senate Hart Office Building.
Notice: The links contained in this website are intended to provide a tool for easy navigation to sites related to the Washington, D.C. area. The content of the sites listed are the sole responsibility of those who maintain the websites. The views reflected in these sites are not necessarily the views of Senator Mike Crapo. In no way should a link from the website of the office of Senator Crapo be construed as an endorsement by Senator Crapo of that organization or the views contained in the site. Once you have left the Senator’s website, Senator Crapo is not responsible for the content of the website you may visit.
 
Last updated 06/16/2016