White House tours...how hard is it to get tickets?

[Docreed2003]

My son ask me to take him up to DC next week for his fall break for a "dudes trip", just the two of us. He went to DC with his school in the spring and didn't get to see as many of the museums as he would have liked and so I agreed to take him back.

This is totally a last min trip but does anyone know of a contact/possibility of obtaining White House tour tickets for a vet and his son? I know this is a wildly long shot but thought I'd see if anyone had ideas.

[snowybirdie]

1. I got VIP

White Houses from my congressman for a,trip with my grandson.

[elleng]

2. I have no 'special' info, but suggest you contact your Congress-critters, including senators.

[Docreed2003]

4. Thanks ellen

Sadly, our redder than red congress critters are useless

[sanatanadharma]

3. https://www.whitehouse.gov/visit/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/visit/

"Public tour requests are scheduled through your Member of Congress and their Congressional Tour Coordinator. Constituents may reach your Member of Congress and Congressional Tour Coordinator through the U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard at 202-225-3121, the U.S. Senate Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or online at www.congress.gov/members"

"Consistent with prior practices, 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). Reservations cannot be accepted for tour dates outside this 21 – 90-day window."

[Docreed2003]

6. Ty...I saw that on the WH site

I was trying to avoid contacting our MAGA Congress folks

[Hekate]

5. Call your congressman's office and ask about tickets to federal buildings...

My experience is that tickets were free and easy to do. It’s better to have advance notice, because there really are a lot of visitors, and they might not be able to accommodate everyone at any given site or time. I wasn’t able to get into the WH, but did see the Treasury Bldg.

On my first trip there I walked and walked. I was under 40 and in great shape, so it was easy. I used the Washington Monument as a gnomon to keep myself oriented.

As for museums, the multiple Smithsonian museums are fantastic. Not free. I was able to see DC several times and stayed with a couple of friends who were career civil servants so was able to save on hotel costs. Since they retired and moved away over a decade ago I have not been back — but if I could I would spend all my time in museum heaven.

Enjoy!

[SWBTATTReg]

7. Museums are so nice there, in DC. I need to one day, go back there, one could spend a whole week there,

just at the museums, besides all of the other stuff that's there. Museum heaven is a very good description! Thanks for the heads-up.

[forthemiddle]

11. The Smithsonian Museums are free

https://www.si.edu/visit/hours

Enjoy! It’s a great place to visit!

Although it’s not free, my husband and I went to the International Spy Museum last month when we were there, and it was fantastic!
https://www.spymuseum.org/

[Hekate]

14. I forgot that -- it's been awhile since I was in DC!

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Not sure of your interests, but two lesser-known museums that I think are fantastic are . . . .

The Air and Space annex at the Udvar-Hazy Center. It is adjacent to Dulles Airport. Great static displays of significant complete aircraft, including the actual Enola Gay (not a replica).

For pure cool (at least to me) is the SR71 Blackbird, on the main floor, and guarded only by stanchions and a single cable.

How abut a space shuttle? Unique, captured WWII German prototypes. Concorde. LOTS more.



On the grounds of the NSA at Ft. Meade is the National Cryptological Museum. You'll learn about codes, code breaking, electronic spy craft, and more.

The highlight for me was an actual working German Enigma Machine that is available for you to operate. Very cool!!



For White House tours, as has been stated by others, you have to go through a Congress Critter (House or Senate). I should think even a MAGAt would do it.




In town are the African American Museum and the Holocaust Museum. (AA is Smithsonian, Holocaust is not and may require advanced ticketing) Both are moving and affecting.

So is Arlington National Cemetery. We have always found a quiet, respectful walk reading headstones of the people we need to thank a worthwhile time.

Walk Embassy Row just to see who's there. You can't visit Embassies casually but it is still fun if the weather's good.

The Vietnam Wall. The Korean and WWII Memorials. We love the FDR Memorial. The new MLK Memorial is powerful.



There is a LOT here. DC is a great city to visit with many attractions free of charge.

[Docreed2003]

9. So, full disclosure

He went to Arlington but we're going back...I have a few friends that I need to visit, I've avoided it long enough. We plan on seeing both Air and Space museums and he has specifically requested the African American Museum, he visited the Holocaust Museum in the spring.

Plan on taking him to the monuments since he didn't get to see most of them up close.

[Democratnik]

15. Monuments and the mall

If the weather is good, please take the chance to go late at night, 11PM to 1AM ~ish, you will have te whole place to yourselves. I have a had a few good cries, just me and Lincoln, or me and MLK, no one else. Some of the most moving experiences of my life.

[electric_blue68]

10. All the Smithstonian Museums in DC are free. I love DC! Been there so many times for decades...

for pure fun, and for marches, demonstrations. Last time 2012 for Obama's 2nd Inaguaral!

I go to the art, science and history museums. They are all so fascinating!
Toured The Capital decades back.

I hope I can get back. Want to see the African-American Museum which I hadn't been to DC since they opened it.

Toured the WH twice. Once in Late Spring, or early Summer, and for The Clinton's special American Crafts Xmas Holiday Display where each of 6 trees displayed ornaments made all, or mostly from a single material: paper, wood, fiber, ceramic, glass, or metal. Extra wonderful, along w all the usual fancy holiday decorations!
I think it was easier in the '80s & '90s to visit the WH. I think I just went to the visitors center to pick up a tix, no Congress person, no x weeks waiting.

But I did have an embarrassing moment at the WH visitor's entrance when somehow I forget something metal (probably jewelry) on me as they wanded me, and I set off the alarm! Had to step aside to be checked.

I loved going in the Spring, or relatively mild low '80s, and dry wearher Summer; I'd sroll the National Mall, everything so green, and bright! Some nice gardens between the Smithstonian building.
Love The Lincoln Memorial, and The Reflecting Pool.

The Library of Congress is beautiful inside!

Enjoy your trip!

[FHRRK]

12. See you have numerous responses to contact your local congressperson

That is how we got in.

My other recommendation - if able, get a end of day bike the monuments tour on the mall. Easy ride, did it with a five year old. Great way to get to all the monuments in a few hours.

[lees1975]

13. I take school groups every year.

We get passes from our Congresswoman. It does take a while because the FBI runs a background check on your social security number.