Historical Buildings and Sites
The history of our country is evident in so many places in and around Washington, DC. The most-visited buildings include the Capitol and the White House. But there are plenty more that figure prominently in America's growth and development as a nation. My office can help arrange tours for certain sites, including the Capitol. Click here to fill out and submit a Tour Request Form through my office.
Ford's Theatre / Petersen's House Hours and Admission: Ford's Theatre and museum: 9am-5pm daily; closed December 25 Ford's Theatre offers a limited number of free, same-day tickets at the Ford’s Theatre Box Office beginning at 8:30 a.m. These daily tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance individual tickets may be obtained $3.00 through the Ford's Theatre website. Admission charged for play performances. . |
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The Library of Congress
Hours and Admission: 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. |
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! |
Mount Vernon
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 Home and final resting place of America's 1st President, George Washington. During the time that Washington lived here (more than 45 years), Mount Vernon was an 8,000-acre plantation, which was divided into five farms; each was a complete unit. The farm where Washington and his family lived was called the "Mansion House Farm," and is the part of the plantation that we refer to today as "Mount Vernon." Washington inherited the property from his older half-brother, who named the property in honor of his commanding officer, Admiral Edward Vernon of the British navy. |
National Archives
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While no tickets are needed, the lines form early during spring and summer months. To skip the long line, call ahead to (202) 357-5450 to make a reservation for a 9:45 a.m. tour Monday through Friday. |
Union Station Hours and Admission: Union Station is open to the public 24 hours No public tours are offered. |
The building fell into disrepair and was in danger of being shut down and demolished, until the Department of Transportation undertook restoration efforts in 1984. Now, more than 32 million people visit the building each year, an average of 90,000 per day. |
| 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. Additionally, you may arrange a tour yourself through the Capitol Visitor Center website.
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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 AM to 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, murals within the Capitol corridors painted by Allyn Cox, and the large 12' x 18' paintings within the Rotunda to compliment your tour.
Another resource with information about the architecture, art and grounds of the U.S. Capitol is the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) website. The AOC is the steward responsible for the maintenance, operation, and preservation of many of our nation’s most recognizable landmarks of democracy and government including the U.S. Capitol and its grounds, the U.S. Supreme Court, Library of Congress and the U.S. Botanic Gardens.
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U.S. Capitol Exterior Tours Hours and Admission: Monday-Saturday 9am and 10am No admission charged. No passes or reservations are needed. |
 Tours of the exterior of the U.S. Capitol are offered Monday through Saturday at 9am and 10am. Visitors will explore the Capitol building and grounds on a 50-minute guided tour. |
U.S. Supreme Court 1 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20543
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 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 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. |
In 2007, the Cathedral is celebrating its Centennial and is hosting several special events, including Cathedral Day on September 29th and a Centennial Gala in November. |
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Tuesday-Saturday; closed Sundays and Mondays Tours are available Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30am to 11:30am 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.
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.
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| 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. |
The site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in April of 1865 has been open to the public since 1968. The building itself has a colorful history, having started as a Baptist church. After Lincoln’s assassination, the theatre was closed, but served intermittently as a museum, office space and storage facility. A restoration effort started in 1954 brought the theatre back, and theatrical events still performed on its stage. At the museum located in the theatre, you will find artifacts related to the assassination, including the gun and knife used by John Wilkes Booth in the attack.
The Petersen House, where the mortally-wounded Lincoln was taken after the attack and later died, is located directly across the street from the Theatre.
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 the most ornate of the buildings; public and congressional tours are conducted daily. The other buildings are open to the public and researchers
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. The Archives were collected starting in 1926.
Union Station, a grand example of Beaux Arts design, was completed in 1907. Its name comes from its role in pulling together the depots of separate railroad companies, which had previously been located on the National Mall. It was an important entry point to the city until air travel gained popularity. The design is symbolic of a gateway, marking it as a gateway to Washington, DC. Roman legionnaires stand watch on a ledge in the main entry hall of Union Station.
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 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).
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.
