Please note: All costs cited are for purposes of estimating only - actual charges may and probably will vary. These prices were based on information obtained in 1995 and 1996.
TOURING IN THE WASHINGTON DC METROPOLITAN AREA
OUR HELP AREAS
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Sports
Telephone Numbers
Theater
Tours
Transportation
Tours
The Arlington National Cemetery - Open daily October through March from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
pm, & April through September from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00pm, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the
Amphitheater, the Custis-Lee Mansion & the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy & William
Howard Taft. Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every hour on the
hour & every half hour during the summer months. Narrated bus tour: Adults $2.75 Children
$1.25 (the buses run one half hour after opening to one half hour before closing) - Telephone:
(703) 692-0931.
The Botanic Gardens - Maryland Avenue. SW Open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm & 9:00am
to 9:00pm during the summer months. Group tours are available by request except Saturday &
Sunday or during any shows. Telephone: (202)225-8333 Metro: Federal center South West.
The Bureau of Engraving & Printing - 14th & C Streets, SW See how US currency is
printed. Tours Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Closed Weekends, Federal
Holidays & December 24 through January 3. Re-open January 4 with regular hours. Group tours
not available. Telephone: (202) 283-2646. Metro: Smithsonian.
The United States Capitol
Building - Open 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., daily beginning in the
Rotunda. Closed Christmas, New Year's & Thanksgiving. This is a guided tour, lasting
approximately 20 minutes. Tours run every 5 to 10 minutes. The Visitor's Entrance is on the
east side of the Capitol. Passes to the House of Representatives and Senate Visitor's Galleries are
available in our office. Telephone: (202) 224-3121. Metro: Capitol South or Union Station.
The Capital Children's Museum - The whole city block at 3rd and H streets, NE. About three
blocks behind Union Station at 800 3rd Street, NE. The museum specializes in hands-on,
interactive educational exhibits. Open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Metro: Union Station.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) - Open 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday - Friday. This
is a guided tour, lasting approximately 1 hour. Tours run every 20 minutes. Enter Rear of FBI
Building on E Street between 9th & 10th Streets, NW. Closed on weekends & Federal holidays.
A 45 to 60 minute tour leaves every 15 to 20 minutes. Congressional tours are not available,
however we can make reservations for you. Reservations are required for groups of 15 or more
people. Telephone: (202) FBI-3447 Metro: Gallery Place.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - This tour is conducted by Friends of
the Kennedy Center volunteers. Visitors should go to the Tour Desk on Motor Parking Lobby A,
here tours leave approximately every 15 minutes and last about an hour. Telephone: (202)254-
3774 Metro: Foggy Bottom/GWU.
The Library of Congress - Jefferson Building, First Street & Independence Avenue, SE. Tours
are conducted at 10:00am, 1pm, and 3pm, Monday through Friday. These tours follow the
showing of an orientation film which begins in the Visitors' Orientation Theater, Room LM-139
in Madison Building. Groups of 10 people or more need reservations.
Telephone: (202)287-5458. Metro: Capitol South or Union Station .
The National Archives. - 7th & Constitution Avenue, NW. Open daily from 10:00am to
5:00pm, Saturday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Telephone: (202)523-3183.
The Old Post Office-Pavilion - 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Open Daily from 9:00am to
10:00pm. National Parks Service offers a tour of the bell tower with a splendid view of the city.
The lines for this tour are normally much shorter than for the Washington Memorial. Telephone:
(202)289-4224 Metro: Federal Triangle or Navy Memorial
The Pentagon - Across the 14th Street Bridge in Virginia (I-395). Open Monday through Friday
from 9:00am to 3:30pm Tours every half hour. Sights to see: the Flag Corridor & Hall of
Heroes. Telephone: (202)695-1776 Metro: Pentagon.
The Washington Navy Yard - at 9th & M Streets, SE, on the banks of the Anacostia River.
The original buildings date back to the 1800's & contain the Navy Memorial Museum & Marine
Corps Museum. The Navy Museum is free & opened from 10:00am to 4:00pm weekdays.
Docked near the Navy Museum is a real Vietnam-era destroyer, the USS Barry. The USS Barry
is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
The Department of State - 2201 C Street, NW Tours are conducted Monday through Friday at
9:30am, 10:30 am, & 3:00pm. Tours are by reservation only.
Telephone: (202)647-3241.
The Supreme Court - First Street & Maryland Avenue, NE. Open Monday through Friday
on of Federal holidays. Tours & public lectures are conducted in
the courtroom from 9:30am to 3:30pm every hour on the half hour, except when court is in
session. No tours are given during August. Telephone: (202)647-3241 Metro: Capitol South or
Union Station.
The Department of the Treasury - This building was built in 1836 and since then has served as
the headquarters for the Treasury Department. The tour includes the history of the Treasury
Department and the building's architecture history. This includes a tour of the Andrew Johnson
suite, where, in 1865, President Johnson conducted official business for 6 weeks after the
assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It also includes the beautiful Salmon P. Chase suite, the Cash
room (the site for Grant's inaugural reception), and the 1864 burglar proof vault. Entrance
through Appointment Center doors located next to the White House on 15th street between F and
G streets, NW. Metro: Metro Center. Hours: Saturday morning, lasting 90 minutes. Admission:
free. For Tour information or to make an advanced reservation call 202/622-0896. For hearing
impaired tours call 202/622-0692.
The United States National Arboretum - 444 acres of trees, shrubs and assorted plants in the
northeast section of the District of Columbia. Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through
Friday. 10:00am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday. Guide services for organized groups are
available. Please make reservations for groups. Entrance: New York Avenue, NE. Metro:
Stadium Armory on the blue or orange lines, then Bus number B-2, B-4, or B-5 to the
intersection of Bladensburg Road and R Street, Walk east of R street 300 yards to the R street
gate. Telephone: 202/637-7000.
The United States Naval Observatory - 34th and Massachusetts Avenue, NW. Evening hours
are available Monday at 8:30pm, weather permitting, exception Federal holidays. Telephone:
202/653-1543.
The White House - 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Open Tuesday through Saturday, visitors
are welcome from 10:00 am to 12 noon. The waiting area is not in effect between Labor Day &
Memorial Day. This is a self-guided tour, however Tour Officers are stationed in each room to
answer questions. Tickets are required for this tour during spring and summer months and can
be acquired at no cost at the "Visitors Kiosk" on the Ellipse of the White House starting at 8:00
a.m. on the morning you wish to tour. Only one member of the family is required. A time will
be issued for later in the day between 10am and noon.
Guided Tours (reserved through Congressional offices) --
There are only ten Congressional Tour
tickets issued per office per week. Congressional offices are not guaranteed tickets. They are
given out on a first come, first serve basis. Our office is required to submit names a month in
advance. Since the White House is occasionally Closed for official events, it is recommended
that visitors call in as far in advance as possible. White House Telephone: (202) 456-7041. For
more information: (202)456-2200. Metro: McPherson Square.
Memorials, Monuments and Points of Interest
The Jefferson Memorial - South bank of the Tidal Basin. Open 24 hours daily. At the Swan
Boathouse you can rent a paddle boat to cruise on the Basin.
The Lincoln Memorial - West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street, NW. Open 24 hours
daily. Telephone: (202)426-6895.
The United States Navy Memorial and Visitors Center - Located at 701 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW. Metro: Navy Memorial. Hours for Visitors Center are Monday through Saturday,
9:30am to 5:00pm, and Sunday, noon to 5:00pm. Telephone: 202/737-2300.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Henry Bacon Drive & Constitution Avenue, NW. Always
open. Constructed of black granite to honor all Americans who served in the Vietnam War. 'As
a special tribute to those who did not return, the names of more than 58,000 who gave their lives
or who remain missing are inscribed in the Memorial's walls. The names are in chronological
order.
The Washington Monument - On the Mall at 15th Street, NW. Open daily April though Labor
Day from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. September through March from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Telephone:
(202)426-6841.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art Museum - 17th Street and New York Avenue. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 4:30pm and on Thursday, 10:00am to 9:00pm. Telephone: (202) 447-9709.
Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Museum - 10th Street Between E & F Streets, NW. Building is
open every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm with the exception of Christmas. Telephone: (202)426-6924.
The Hall of States Building - 444 North Capitol Street, NW. This building houses 32 state
offices. For information call the Council of State Governments at 202-624-5386.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - 100 Raoul Wallenbert Place, SW (old 15th
street between Maine Avenue and Independence Avenue). There is an entrance also on 14th
street, next to the Bureau of Printing & Engraving. Open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 5:30pm
Closed on Christmas. Permanent exhibition is recommended for ages 11 and up. Daniel's
Story is recommended for ages 8 and up. The visit will take from an 1 1/2 to 3 hours. Currently
tickets are required. Tickets can be purchased by telephone through Ticketmaster by calling
(800) 551-7328. The cost is $3.00/ticket + $1.25/order handling charge. It hoped that this
practice can be terminated by the end of the summer. Metro: Smithsonian on the blue or orange lines
exit at 12th and Independence Avenue. Telephone: (202) 488-0400.
The National Building Museum - Located: 401 F Street, NW, between 4th and 5th streets.
Wheelchair access at 4th and G streets. Museum Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 4pm,
Sunday noon - 4pm. Closed Thanks Giving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Pension Building
hours: Monday through Friday (12:30pm), Saturday and Sunday (12:30pm and 1:30pm).
Metro: Judiciary Square - Red line. Telephone: 202/272-2448.
The National Gallery of Art - 6th & Constitution Avenue, NW. Open daily from 10:00am to
5:00pm, Sunday noon to 9:00pm. Sunday concerts are held at 7:00pm in the East Garden Court
from October through June. Telephone: (202)737-4215.
The National Geographic Society - 17th & M Street, NW. Exhibits of famous scientific
expeditions. Telephone: (202)857-7588.
The National Postal Museum - Located: 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE in the Washington City
Post Office Building on Capitol Hill (next to Union Station). Hours: 10:00am to 5:30pm.
Closed on Christmas. Free admission. Telephone: general number is 202/357-2700, for hearing
impaired call 202/357-1729.
The Phillips Collection - the nation's first museum of modern art with free Sunday concerts.
1600-1612 21st Street, NW. Telephone: 202/387-2151.
The Textile Museum - 11,000 textiles and 1,000 rugs. Located: 2320 S Street, NW.
Telephone: 202/667-0441.
The Washington Dolls' House and Toy Museum - antique dolls' houses, dolls, toys and games.
5236 44th Street, NW. telephone: 202/244-0024.
- For information, Call (202)357-1300
Anacostia Neighborhood Museum - 2405 Martin Luther King Avenue, SE
Arts & Industries - 900 Jefferson Drive, SW
Free Gallery of Art - Jefferson Drive & 12th Street, SW
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden - Independence Avenue and 7th Street, SW
National Air & Space Building - Independence Avenue & 7th Street, SW
National Gallery of Art - 4th Street between the Mall and Constitution Avenue, NW
National Museum of African Art - 950 Independence Avenue, SW
National Museum of American Art - 8th & G Street, NW
National Museum of Natural History - 10th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW
National Portrait Gallery - 8th & F street, NW
The National Postal Museum - 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Building on Capitol Hill (next to Union Station).
Renwick Gallery - Pennsylvania Avenue & 17th Street, NW
Sackler Gallery - 1050 Independence Avenue, SW Telephone: (202)357-2700
Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle Building) - 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW
Smithsonian Kite Festival - late each March on the Mall. Telephone: (202)357-3244
Hours: The museums are open daily, except Christmas, from 10:00am to 5:30pm (Air & Space
10:00am to 7:30pm). Extended Summer hours are determined annually. Metro: Smithsonian.
Other Places of Interest
The National Aquarium - 14th Street between Constitution Avenue & D Street, NW. Tanks filled
with fish, frogs, alligators, sharks etc... Open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm exception of Christmas.
Admissions: Adults $1.00, Senior Citizens & Children under 12 50 cents. Telephone: (202)377-2825.
Zoological Park - 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Grounds open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00pm
from May 1 through September 15. Buildings are open from 9:00am to 4:30pm during the winter
months & from 10:00am to 6:00pm during the summer months. Telephone: (202)673-4717.
Plantations and Historic Mansions
The Dumbarton Oaks - 1703 32nd Street, NW. Gardens open daily from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
Museum open Tuesday through Sunday fro 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Both are closed on Federal Holidays
and December 24, 25, and January 1. Admission to garden: $1.00; Senior Citizens free on
Wednesdays; Children 12 and under free. Telephone: 202/338-8278.
Mount Vernon - Home of George Washington. Open to the public daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm
from March through October & at 4:00pm from November through February. Admission: Adults
$7.00 Children ages 6 to 11 $3.00, Children 6 & under free, Senior Citizens $6.00. Special prices
or groups of school children, youth groups & senior Citizens. A group is defined as a minimum of
twenty adults or twelve students (grades 1 - 12). Telephone: (703)780-2000.
The Octagon House - 18th and New York Avenue, NW. Architectural exhibits. Served as James
Madison's White House following the destruction of the real White House by the British in 1814.
The Treaty of Ghent was signed here, ending the War of 1812. Open Tuesday through Friday from
10:00am to 4:00pm/Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4:00pm. Closed Monday. Telephone:
202/638-3105.
Sports
Oriole Park at Camden Yards Westside of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Telephone: 800/448-9009 (ticket information), 301/243-9800 (general information), and
301/396-7113 (stadium information).
The Washinton Bullets Capitol Center at 1 Harry S. Truman Drive, Landover, Maryland. Exit
15A and 17A off of I-495. Telephone: 301/432-0200 for ticket information, 301/350-3400 for
stadium information.
Washington Capitals Capitol Center at 1 Harry S. Truman Drive, Landover, Maryland. Exit
15A and 17A off of I-495. Telephone: 301/432-0200 for ticket information, 301/350-3400 for
stadium information.
Washington Redskins
Theaters
Arena Stage
6th and Maine Avenue, SW
202/488-3300
800/777-2238
D.C. Space
7th and E Street, NW
202/347-4960
Discovery Theater
performances for young audiences.
The S. Dillon Ripley Center
3rd Sublevel
1100 Jefferson Drive, SW Washington, DC 20024
Phone
202-633-8700
Ticket Prices: $6, adults; $5, children; $4, Resident Members
Ford's Theater
511 10th Street, NW
202/347-4833
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
New Hampshire Avenue at Rock Creek Parkway, NW
202/254-3600
Merriweather Post Pavilion (Outdoor theater) - performing arts center offers symphonic music, and pop concerts. Only
open during warm weather. Telephone: 800/551-7328 (Columbia, Maryland) and 301/596-0660
(in D.C.)
National Theater
1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
202/628-6161
Shakespeare Theatre at the Folger
301 E. Capitol Street, SE
202/547-3230
Source Theatre
1809 14th Street, NE
Mainstage - 202/462-1073
Studio Theater
1401 Church Street, NW
202/332-3300
Washington Ballet
3515 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
202/362-3606
Washington Performing Arts Society
1029 Vermont Avenue, NW
202/393-3600
Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts (Outdoor theater) - Virginia Route 7 near Vienna, Virginia. The
nation's first National Park for the performing arts offers opera, symphonic music, pop concerts, jazz
and ballet. Only open during warm weather. Price of admission varies depending on program.
Telephone: 703/938-3800.
Transportation
Baltimore International Airport (BWI) Maryland Telephone: (301) 261-1000 (general information), (301) 261-1091 (ground transportation), and (301) 674-1167 (Amtrak BWI Station)
Dulles International Airport (IAD) Chantilly, Virginia Telephone numbers general information 703/471-7838, lost and found - 703/471-4114, taxi service - 703/528-4440 and 703/661-8636 (travelers aid).
Metrorail Subway System:
Open 5:30am to 12:00pm, Monday - Friday. 8:00 a.m. to 12:00pm on
Saturday, 10:00am to 12:00pm Sunday, & special schedules on holidays. Metrobus: 6:00 am to
11:30pm (days & times vary by route) Telephone: (202)637-7000 (transit information, timetable
requests & parking information), (202)962-1245 (handicapped assistance), & (202)962-1196 (lost & found)
Washington National Airport (DCA) Telephone: 703/685-8000 for general information, 703/685-8034 for lost and found, 703/637-7000 for metro information, and 703/684-3472 for travelers aid and paging.
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