Visiting
Washington, D.C.
I hope you will be amazed by all that our Nation’s Capitol has to offer. While you are here, be sure to take advantage of the history and culture surrounding you. The monuments and museums are a testament to our shared story as Americans. I wish you the best on your upcoming adventure and hope that you cherish the memories of your visit.
If you are visiting the Senate, please stop by my office to talk story and get a little taste of home! My staff and I are here to help you have an enjoyable, memorable visit.
My office can help you with scheduling tours of several historic sites in the city. If you would like to request any tours, please fill out the form below or contact my Washington, D.C. office at 202-224-6361.
Capitol tours can be requested from Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Update on Tours in Washington DC (July 1, 2022):
Our office is currently able to process tour requests for the White House and Capitol. Due to COVID-19 concerns, we are unable to schedule tours of the Library of Congress and Kennedy Center at this time. If you’d like us to keep you updated on the status of these locations, please fill out our webform.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact my office at (202) 224-6361 or at tours@hirono.senate.gov.
When sending a written request, please make sure to include your name, address and phone number, the places you would like to visit, the number of tickets you want and your dates of travel. If you have any questions you may also contact the office by phone at (202) 224-6361.
Capitol Visitor Center (CVC)
The Capitol Visitors Center has begun offering tours exclusively to school groups. Tour slots are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please request a tour through our webform.
The CVC is now offering an expanded array of live online classes and resources about the U.S. Capitol and Congress. To access a virtual tour of the Capitol, interactive online programs, self-guided e-learning tools, worksheets and much more visit the CVC’s website here.
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art has reopened to the public. The Gallery is open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and passes are not required. For more information, visit their website here.
The United States Capitol is a monument, a working office building, and one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world. Visitors can enter the Capitol through the Capitol Visitor Center located on the East Front Plaza at First Street and North Capitol Street, NE. The Capitol Visitor Center is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm everyday except Sunday and the following holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Inauguration Day. In the Capitol Visitor Center, you can browse through the Exhibition Hall, shop at the Gift Stores, and dine at the restaurant. For more information please visit the Capitol Visitor Center website. My office will be happy to request tickets for a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol and provide you with Gallery passes to both the House and Senate Galleries.
UPDATE: Beginning May 2nd, my office will resume offering staff-led tours of the Capitol on Mondays through Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tour slots are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please request a tour through our webform.
Self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted). Tour hours will be extended when possible based on the official White House schedule. Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Requests can be submitted up to six 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. All White House tours are free of charge. (Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.)
*Note that while you may submit your request up to 6 months in advance, this does not guarantee that the White House will be able to accommodate your tour request. These tours are very limited, and are subject to the schedule of the President. Our office typically does not receive a response from the White House until 1-2 weeks prior to the requested tour date, regardless of when the request was submitted.
UPDATE: Beginning April 15th, the White House will hold tours on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tour requests must be submitted a minimum of 21 days in advance. Please request a tour through our webform.
The Library of Congress Jefferson Building is located on the corner of First Street and Independence Ave, SE. Public walk-on tours are available Monday through Friday hourly from 10:30am to 3:30pm and on Saturdays from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Public Tours are available on federal holidays with the exceptions of New Year's Day, Inauguration Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. My office can assist in scheduling a reserved constituent tour available Monday through Friday at 9:45am or 1:45pm. All tours are docent led and last about one hour.
UPDATE: Beginning April 5th, the Library of Congress will expand its visiting hours. Timed entry passes are still required and can be reserved here. Our office is unable to schedule tours on your behalf at this time.
The Kennedy Center provides a variety of guided tours. The tour also includes the majestic Hall of States Hall of Nations and five of the Center's main theaters, including its three grand performance halls (the Concert Hall, Opera House, and Eisenhower Theater). From the magnificent Opera House chandelier, a gift from Austria that measures 50 feet across, to the 3,700 tons of marble from Carrara, Italy, lining the walls of the Hall of Nations, to the gorgeous Israeli Lounge, these gems reflect the many extraordinary gifts from the governments of more than 60 countries that make the Kennedy Center truly an international destination. For more information, visit the Kennedy Center website.
- Kennedy Center Tours typically last from 1 hour – 1 hour 30 min.
- For directions to the Kennedy Center, please visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/visit/
UPDATE: The Kennedy Center has resumed tours which are offered on a walk-in basis only. For more information and a schedule of events, visit the Center's website here. My office is unable to schedule tours on your behalf at this time.
In addition to the Library of Congress and Kennedy Center, the following attractions have reopened and do not require bookings through my office.
The National Archives Museum is home of the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights which are housed in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom; the Public Vaults permanent exhibit gallery; the David M. Rubenstein Gallery, the Lawrence F. O'Brien temporary exhibit gallery; the Boeing Learning Center; and the William G. McGowan Theater.
The National Archives Museum is open every day except Thanksgiving and December 25 (see Museum Hours for operating schedule). Reservations are not required for individuals or groups wishing to enter the National Archives Museum through the general public entrance. The general public entrance is located at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 9th Street. For more information, please visit Daily Visits: http://www.archives.gov/nae/visit/reserved-visits.html
UPDATE: The National Archives has reopened to the public between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Timed-entry passes are available in advance, with limited same-day availability. To reserve your passes, see here.
The Pentagon, headquarters of the Department of Defense, is one of the world’s largest office buildings. It has over 23,000 employees and has floor space of three Empire State Buildings. Construction was started on the Pentagon in 1941. In 1976, as a part of America’s Bicentennial celebration, the Pentagon began offering tours to the public.
Guided tours of the Pentagon are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. The tour is about one hour and covers a distance of roughly 1.5 miles. Tours are free but reservations are required. In order to reserve a tour it is necessary to contact the Pentagon by calling 703-697-1776 or by going to the website below.
The Washington Monument dominates the DC skyline as a tribute to George Washington's military leadership, statesmanship, and wisdom. Constructed from marble, granite and gneiss, the monument is the world's tallest free-standing stone structure, towering 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches (169 meters) above the nation’s capital. Visitors enter the monument and then ascend via elevator to the 500-foot level to behold sweeping views of the city. For more information and to reserve your ticket, visit: https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/234635
UPDATE: The Washington Monument has reopened to the public. Tickets are available at 10:00 a.m. for the next day’s visit (e.g. if you are planning to visit on December 6th, tickets become available at 10:00 a.m. December 5th). There is a non-refundable reservation fee of $1 per ticket. To reserve your ticket, see here.
For a list of D.C. attractions that have reopened, see here. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact my office at (202) 224-6361 or at tours@hirono.senate.gov.
If you are visiting the Senate, please stop by my office to talk story and get a little taste of home! My staff and I are here to help you have an enjoyable, memorable visit.
