THINGS TO DO WHEN VISITING WASHINGTON, DC.
If you are coming to visit Washington, DC., I’m happy to hear it! My office is available to help you see our nation’s most symbolic and important buildings – the United States Capitol Building and the White House! More information can be found on my Tours & Ticket Page, accessible here.
The Supreme Court Building serves as both home to the nation's highest Court and the manifest symbol of its importance as a coequal, independent branch of government. The Supreme Court Building is open to the public Monday - Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. It is closed on weekends and all federal holidays. Visitors should be aware that the business of the Court may affect public access to the building and visitor programs. Please check Today at the Court on the homepage for the Court's daily calendar.
The Smithsonian is home to 19 world-class museums, galleries, gardens, and a zoo. As of June 2022, most Smithsonian museums have completely reopened to the public. You can find a full list of operating days and hours here.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo sits on 163 acres in the heart of Washington, DC.’s Rock Creek Park, and is open 364 days a year at no charge. Founded in 1889, the Zoo is currently home to more than 2,700 animals representing more than 390 species. Giant pandas, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, Aldabra tortoises, Panamanian golden frogs, sea lions, orangutans, meet-a-small-mammal demonstrations, and Asian elephant trainings are just a few amongst the many that you can see there. Get timed entry passes here.
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, films and video, audio recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. The Thomas Jefferson Building is open to visitors Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and until 8:30 pm on Thursdays. The Library is closed for public visits on Sundays and Mondays. Every Library of Congress visitor, regardless of age, must have a free time-entry pass to enter the Thomas Jefferson Building. Passes are available in 15-minute increments during operating hours. For timed entry passes, please click here.
Visit Ford’s Theatre and step back in time at the historic site to learn about the events of April 14, 1865, and the lasting impact of Lincoln’s assassination on our nation. Advance tickets are required ($3.50 fee) and limited to 6 tickets per order.
The Kennedy Center is the Nation’s Cultural Center with an objective to invite art into the lives of all Americans and ensure it represents the cultural diversity of America. It’s the nation's busiest performing arts center, typically hosting upwards of 2,000 events annually. Much more than a collection of theaters, see what is open and view select calendar events when as you play your trip accordingly.
The Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., also known as "8th & I," is the oldest active post in the Marine Corps and supports both ceremonial and security missions in the nation’s capital. It was founded by President Thomas Jefferson and Lt. Col. William Ward Burrows, the second commandant of the Marine Corps, in 1801.The Barracks is home to many nationally recognized units and is also the site of the Home of the Commandants, which, along with the Barracks, is a registered national historic landmark.
National Archives Museum, the Rotunda of the National Archives Building, is open for viewing of the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights with limited capacity from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Reserve required timed entry tickets here.
The Jefferson Memorialis open 24 hours a day, no reservation required. Visit the Memorial’s ‘Things to Do’ and Calendar of Events to discover a wide of array of activities from paddle boats and bike tours to nighttime walks with a park ranger. General information to help plan your visit is available here.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial is an outdoor memorial open 24 hours a day with no reservation required. Rangers are on duty to answer questions and provide interpretive programs from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. upon request. The first part of the memorial is a triangular field with stainless steel statues and a reflective wall engraved with images of uniformed servicemen to represent all who served. The second half of the memorial is a circular pool with a ring of benches and linden trees provided as a quiet, contemplative space to honor the sacrifices made during the war. Visitors to the memorial can access the Korean War Registry from the info kiosk.
The Lincoln Memorial is open to guests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays with no reservations required. Rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 am to 10 pm daily to provide interpretive programs, excluding December 25th.Architect Henry Bacon modeled the Lincoln Memorial after the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Bacon felt that a memorial dedicated to a man who defended democracy should echo the birthplace of democracy. The towering memorial is 190 feet long, 120 feet wide, 99 feet tall and constructed with Colorado Yule marble.
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial is open 24 hours, 7 days a week with no reservation required. Rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily and provide interpretive programs upon request. This presidential memorial is located along the western shore of the Tidal Basin, taking visitors through time as FDR's four terms in office are chronicled through quotes carved in stone and fascinating bronze artwork. Dedicated in 1997, using elements of stone, water, and unique landscaping, it consists of five outdoor rooms that represent a prologue to the presidency and the unprecedented four terms won by President Roosevelt. Over four and a half tons of South Dakota red granite and 100,000 gallons of flowing water are used.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorialis free and open 24 hours a day with no reservation required. The memorial is located north of the Lincoln Memorial near the intersection of 22nd St. and Constitution Ave. NW." These names, seemingly infinite in number..." Honoring the men and women who served, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial chronologically lists the names of 58,318 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country in the Vietnam Conflict. The display includes the Memorial "Wall," the "Three Servicemen Statue" and the "Vietnam Women's Memorial."
The Washington Monument has an outdoor viewing area open 24 hours a day with no reservation required. As of July 14, 2021, the monument is open for visitors 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Visitors need tickets to the monument, and they can only be had online at recreation.gov. There’s a $1 reservation fee per ticket, and the tickets for each day become available at 10 a.m. the day before. After years of extensive renovations, the Washington Monument reopened in 2019 with a modernized elevator and increased long-term reliability and safety. Built to honor George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first president of the United States, it was once the tallest building in the world at just over 555 feet. It still holds the title of world’s tallest stone structure and obelisk.
The World War II (WWII) Memorial is open to the public 24 hours a day with no reservations required. “Service, Sacrifice, Unity, and Victory.” Through stone architecture and bronze sculptures, the WWII memorial honors the service of 16 million members of our Armed Forces, the support of countless millions on the home front, and the ultimate sacrifice of 405,399 Americans. Twenty-four bronze bas-relief panels flank the ceremonial entrance. To many, these panels stir memories as they tell the story of America's experience in the war. Granite columns representing each state and territory at the time ring an impressive pool with water shooting high into the air. Quotes, references to theaters, campaigns, and battles, and two massive victory pavilions chronicle the efforts undertook to win the war. A wall of 4,048 gold stars reminds the supreme sacrifice made to make that victory possible. Visitors can also search the World War II Registry, a database honoring Americans who helped win the war, either overseas or on the home front.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is open six days a week. Spanning three floors, The Holocaust, a self-guided Permanent Exhibition, offers a chronological narrative of the Holocaust through historical artifacts, photographs, and film footage. Throughout the exhibition, visitors will also encounter personal objects and the eyewitness testimonies of individual survivors. Learn about the collections, plan your visit, and get free required timed entry tickets.
The United States Navy Memorial Visitor Centertells the story of the American Sailor -- past, present and future -- and honors, recognizes and celebrates the men and women of the Sea Services. Through interactive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and over 700,000 stories of service it shares the rich history and heritage of our Navy. Open daily with no reservation required. Find upcoming events and programs.