How can you get a tour of the White House in DC?

Question

I heard you have to write your representative... is this true?

Answer 1

Call your congressman or senator. Have the following available when you call: All the people in your group's names, date of births, social security numbers, and what dates you are willing and able to take a tour.

I have worked on the Hill in DC off and on for some time, and I still have trouble arranging trips for friends to the White House without the information more than 3 months in advance. The earlier you call the better.

As far as the tour - It's a lot of hype. All of what you see is in the sections of the White House were there is little to no real policy working going on. The rooms are neat (Blue, Green and Red) and are very 1800s retro. But if you are traveling with small kids it might be too long of a hour and they will end up bored. If you still want to get that White House Tour feeling without the security clearances, across the street on the corner of 14th and Pennsylvania (in the ground floor of the Department of Commerce Building) is the National Park Administration's White House Visitor Center. Recently redone it has tons of pictures and artifacts, and is more interactive than the actual tour. The Gift Shop here is also pretty decent.

Answer 2

yes, u do, i have been 2 the white house, last yr. and trust me it aint easy, u should write 2 ur senator or county representative. however, it takes forever 2 get these tickets, so many ppl all over the world come 2 see the white house, so get on it asap. GL

Answer 3

I don't know how to get the process started, but I do know that since 9/11 most requests are denied. However, the White House will not let you know whether or not you're approved until 2 weeks before your date - and then they tell what time to be there.

I know this because, by sheer coincidence, I was just talking to someone today who works for a private school and is in charge of organizing the trip to D.C. this year. The trip is in February and she's stressing out already!

Answer 4

Contact your Representative. If you don't know who that is, shame on you. But go to www.house.gov, and it will link you to a page where you can enter your Zip code, and you will find out who s/he is.

When my family came to visit me in DC, my dad asked his Rep, who needed our DOB and Social Security Numbers. I think I also heard that you can't carry anything in--no purses or bags. I nearly freaked at that--I don't have a car, so I carry my bag everywhere; it's my life. Turned out after we gave our info that there was no room for us. Oh, well.

I have to say it really isn't worth the hassle. You wait around forever, get to see only a few rooms, and then get dumped out on a different street from which you entered. Unless you're familiar with DC (or part of a tour group), it's easy to get turned around and have trouble finding your way back to where you want to go. This was in the 1990s, so things may have changed--but I would go to the museums instead.

Answer 5

It varies depending on who your representative/Senators are.

Go to the website of your congressperson or senator. Usually they have information on their site that tells you how you get these tickets for your particular representative or senator. I'm including the links to the House and Senate web pages where you can find your representative and get to his or her web page.

Answer 6

You have to go to the White House very early in the AM and wait in line to get tickets.

Answer 7

i dont think you can get in like on a whim.
i rarely, i mean, i have never seen a tour group going in. but hey you can always take a picture from the gates.

Answer 8

Just tell them that you are George Bush's daughter. At this point in his career, he will do just about anything to gain public support.