What things can you do at the White House?
The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface. For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, a jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, billiard room, and a bowling lane.
How much does it cost to tour the White House?
Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Requests can be submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. You are encouraged to submit your request as early as possible as a limited number of spaces are available. The White House tour is free of charge.
How much does it cost to visit the White House?
There is no cost to tour the White House, but you will need to apply for free tickets. Both U.S. nationals and foreign visitors can tour the White House. To visit the White House, it's important to know that you must reserve your tickets in advance, MONTHS in advance. You'll need time prior to your trip to reserve tickets.
Can you still tour the White House?
Yes you can take a tour of the White House. Please see the answer above from whitehouse.gov. You must contact your Congressional Representative and request a specific day. You will then fill out information with all those that will attend with their date of birth, driver's license number. etc. You should request your tickets many months in advance.
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Can anyone visit the White House Visitor Center?
The White House Visitor Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (map), offers visitors a window into the president's iconic home. Admission is free.
How do you set up a visit to the White House?
For the most up-to-date information about touring and visiting the White House, call the 24-hour Visitors Office Information Line at 202-456-7041.
What forms of ID do you need to tour the White House?
All guests 18 years of age or older will be required to present a valid, government-issued photo identification (detailed below). All foreign nationals must present their passport. All other forms of foreign identification will not be accepted. All information submitted (e.g. name, date of birth, city, etc.)
Is the elipse open to the public?
The entire park, which features monuments, is open to the public and is part of President's Park. The Ellipse is the location for many annual events.
Why are White House tours suspended?
Like many sites in D.C., the White House paused tours of its interior due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Do you have to have a background check to visit the White House?
Visitors should not plan trips to Washington DC, around a tour of the White House since the White House does not confirm or deny tour requests until about two weeks before the requested tour date. Individuals will be subject to a limited background check.
How long does it take to get approved for White House tour?
It can take up to six months to get a response back. The date of visit is determined by the response so it might work out when you want to go or it may not. over a year ago. My husband told me that it takes about a year or two because you have to go through background checks and plus there is a long waiting list too.
Is there a dress code for White House tours?
There is no dress code to tour the White House, but due to the importance of the building, you should want to dress neatly.
How hard is it to get a tour of the White House?
Touring the White House requires some advance planning. Public tour requests must be made through your member of Congress (find your member of Congress and contact information) and submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days prior to your visit.
Is the White House closed for tours?
Public tours are typically available from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted. If your tour is confirmed, please note that you will be assigned a specific time. All White House tours are free of charge.
Can you walk through the Ellipse in DC?
The Ellipse is basically the oval-shaped field between the Mall (Washington Monument) and the White House. You have to walk around it to get from the Mall to the White House. However, the best view of the White House is at the north end of the Ellipse.
Can you walk on the Ellipse?
BEST VIEW OF THE WHITE HOUSE #2: The Ellipse The South Lawn of the White House is the Ellipse. You can access it on foot from Constitution Ave NW, 15th and 17th.
How hard is it to get a tour of the White House?
Touring the White House requires some advance planning. Public tour requests must be made through your member of Congress (find your member of Congress and contact information) and submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days prior to your visit.
How long does it take to get approved for White House tour?
It can take up to six months to get a response back. The date of visit is determined by the response so it might work out when you want to go or it may not. over a year ago. My husband told me that it takes about a year or two because you have to go through background checks and plus there is a long waiting list too.
Can you visit the White House right now?
The White House is open to public tours usually from 830am to 1230pm Tuesday-Saturday, except for Federal Holidays. Reservations can be hard to get and must be arranged in advance.
What does the public need to do in order to tour the White House?
PUBLIC WHITE HOUSE TOUR REQUESTS 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.
Where to go
The White House Visitor Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW ( map ), offers visitors a window into the president's iconic home. Admission is free. The visitor center is open Wednesday-Saturday from 11am-4pm. Please note the following safety mitigations in place:
What to see
The exhibit areas feature approximately 100 historical artifacts, interpretive panels, looping videos of photos and archival footage, and interactive elements for visitors of all ages.
FAQs
Have tour questions? Visit our White House Tours page, or call the visitor center at (202) 208-1631.
White House Visitor Center
Preview the visitor center at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is free. The visitor center is open Wednesday-Saturday from 11:00 a.m-4:00 p.m. except January 1, Thanksgiving, and December 25.
What time does the White House open for tours?
Self-guided tours run from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays unless otherwise not ed. For complete details on White House tours, visit the White House tours and events page or call the White House Visitors Office 24-hour information line at (202) 456-7041.
What are the requirements to visit the White House?
All guests over 18 years old will be required to present a valid, government-issued photo ID upon check-in. Foreign nationals must present their passport. Please bring as little as possible (avoid backpacks, food, large handbags, bottled water, etc.). Note that smartphones and compact cameras with a lens no longer than 3 inches are permitted on the public tour route, but video recording devices and flash photography are not allowed inside the White House. Visitors will go through security prior to entering the White House. There are no restrooms available at the White House. The closest restroom is located at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion nearby.
What metro lines are closest to the White House?
The closest Metro stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (Blue and Orange lines), Metro Center (Blue, Orange and Red lines) and McPherson Square (Blue and Orange lines). Please note there is NO PARKING near the White House. Public transportation is strongly encouraged.
Where are the restrooms in the White House?
There are no restrooms available at the White House. The closest restroom is located at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion nearby. Public tours of the White House include the public rooms in the East Wing, which includes the Blue Room, Red Room and Green Room; the State Dining Room; the China Room; and a view of the White House Rose Garden.
Can you see the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue NW?
While visitors are not allowed entry to the White House without requesting a tour through your congressional representative, you will still be able to see the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue NW at Lafayette Square and view the White House and the South Lawn from the Ellipse. Please note that a new fence is currently under construction at the White House, as the current 6-foot fence is being replaced by a stronger, wider fence that will be 13 feet.
Is the White House high security?
It is important to note that security at the White House is extremely high. If your hotel is nearby, we suggest leaving your belongings in your room during the tour. If this is not possible, there are a few other options. You can designate one member of your tour group to hold everyone’s belongings.
Is the White House free to visit?
Tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All White House tours are free. Please note tours are subject to last minute cancellations based on the official White House schedule.
What is the White House Visitor Center?
The Visitor Center provides a window into the Executive Mansion and its history as a companion to a White House tour, or as a stand-alone experience for those without a tour. Nearly 100 artifacts are on display, some for the first timesuch as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s desk. The White House Visitor Center is operated by ...
How many square feet are there in the White House?
The White House Visitor Center is a nearly 1,600 square foot museum-caliber visitor experience featuring interactive exhibits, a large-scale model of the White House, numerous tactile exhibits, museum galleries, a temporary exhibit area, and the White House Historical Association retail shop. The Visitor Center provides a window into the Executive Mansion and its history as a companion to a White House tour, or as a stand-alone experience for those without a tour. Nearly 100 artifacts are on display, some for the first timesuch as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s desk.
What is the purpose of the Visitor Center at the Capitol?
Capitol is to provide a welcoming and educational environment for visitors to learn about the unique characteristics of the House and the Senate and the legislative process as well as the history and development of the architecture and art of the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol, House and Senate office ...
Where is the conservatory at Capitol Hill?
Located at the base of Capitol Hill, the conservatory features more than 20,000 plants, including exotic flowers and fruit species. First Street and Maryland Avenue, SW.
How many miles of shelving are there in America's library?
President (Adams, Jefferson, and Madison), contains millions of cataloged books and other print materials on 530 miles of shelving is a world-renowned research center for scholars easily accessible to both Congress and the public.
Where is the White House visitor center?
How To Get to the White House Visitor Center. The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave NW ( map ). The entrance to the White House Visitor Center is on Pennsylvania Ave NW, just before you get to 15th St NW and across the street from Pershing Park.
When is the White House open?
The White House Visitor Center is open Wednesday - Saturday 11am-4pm (as of Oct 2021) It's completely free to visit!
What is the closest metro station to the White House?
It has a number of exits, the closest to the White House Visitor Center being the exit on 13th and G St NW.
How much did the White House restoration cost?
After an extensive revamping, the White House Visitor Center is open again to the public. The restoration work took over 2 years and cost $12.5 million, much of which came from private donations through the White House Historical Association.
What lines does Metro Center use?
Metro Center is on the Blue / Orange / Silver / Red lines and one of the main stations downtown.
Where is the White House gift shop?
There is also a gift shop at 701 15th St NW called White House Gifts.
Is the White House open for visitors?
There are over 90 new artifacts on display, many of which have never before been on display. The White House Visitor Center is open daily from 7:30 am- 4 pm except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. It’s completely free to visit!
