Washington DC Tour Information
Memorials, Monuments, Museums, and Points of Interest
African American History Museum
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts. Nearly 100,000 individuals have become charter members of the museum. When the NMAAHC opens on September 24, 2016, it will be the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art Museum
The Corcoran Gallery is currently closed for renovations.
Department of the Interior Museum
The Department of the Interior Museum opened on March 8, 1938 as a way to showcase the work of the Department, and it has stayed true to this goal ever since. The museum is open Mondays – Fridays, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed Federal holidays) and is free to the public. Metro Stop: the closest station is Farragut West.
Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Museum
Whether you want to learn more about President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination or you want to enjoy some live theater, Ford’s Theatre is rich with history. Ford’s Theatre is located at 511 10th Street, NW - 10th Street Between E & F Streets. Telephone: (202) 426-6924. Metro Stop: the closest station to the theatre is Metro Center
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial
Visitors get to walk through important moments that defined President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms in office. The memorial is located at 900 Ohio Drive, S.W., near the Jefferson Memorial and the Potomac River. There are park rangers available from 8 a.m. to midnight every day except Christmas Day. There are no fees to visit any of the monuments or memorials in the park. Telphone: (202) 426-6841 Information. Metro stop: Smithsonian Metro stop comes out on the National Mall.
Located at 444 North Capitol Street, NW, this building houses 32 state offices. For information call the Council of State Governments at (202) 624-5386.
The 19-foot statue of Thomas Jefferson holding the Declaration of Independence is an iconic portrait of Washington, DC. The memorial is located at the south bank of the Tidal Basin. At the Swan Boathouse, on the other side of the Tidal Basin, you can rent a paddle boat to cruise on the Basin. Metro stop: The Smithsonian Metro stop comes out on the National Mall. Phone: (202) 426-6841
The 19 stainless steel figures and the Wall of Remembrance honor the lives of those who fought in the Korean War. The memorial is staffed from 8 a.m. to midnight every day except December 25 by park rangers who are available to answer questions and present interpretive themes. A bookstore in the nearby Lincoln Memorial sells informational items relating to both the memorial and the Korean War. The memorial is located on the southern side of the Reflecting Pool, close to the Lincoln Memorial.
Dedicated in 1922, the 19-foot tall statue of President Lincoln is the most visited site on the National Mall. The memorial is located west Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street, NW. Telephone: (202) 426-6895. Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom or the Smithsonian Metro stop which comes out on the National Mall.
The National Building Museum is dedicated to the history and impact of the architecture, engineering, and design that surrounds us every day. Visitors must purchase a ticket to view the museum, which is located at 401 F Street, NW, between 4th and 5th streets. Wheelchair access at 4th and G streets. Metro Stop: Judiciary Square - Red line. Telephone: (202) 272-2448.
The National Gallery houses an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and photographs, and their collection ranges from the Byzantine Era to modern Pop Art. The entrances to the West Building are located on Constitution Avenue at 6th Street, NW, on Madison Drive at 6th Street, NW, and on 4th Street between Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive, NW. The entrance for the East Building is located on 4th Street between Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive, NW. Metro stop: Archives (Yellow and Green Lines) and Judiciary Square (Red Line).
National Mall and Memorial Parks
The sprawling lands of the National Mall & Memorial Parks include the Mall, the public promenade extending from 3rd Street near the Capitol to 14th Street, including the:
- Jefferson Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Roosevelt Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Washington Monument
- World War II Memorial
Explore the National Mall with this walking tour provided by National Geographic.
The Museum features exhibits of famous scientific expeditions, and exhibits change often. Phone: 800-NGS-LINE (800-647-5463); 800-548-9797. Must pay for admission. The museum is located at 1145 17th & M Street. Metro stop: Farragut North (Red Line) and Farragut West (Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines).
Featuring more than 20,000 stamps, this museum highlights how the U.S. postal system has evolved over the decades. The museum is located at 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE in the Washington City Post Office Building on Capitol Hill (next to Union Station). Metro: Take Metro's Red Line to Union Station. Leave through the Massachusetts Avenue exit. As you get off the escalator, the National Postal Museum will be to your left.
The Phillips Collection houses over 4,000 pieces of art, ranging from French Impressionism to American Modernism and contemporary art. Visitors over 18 must pay for admission. 1600 21st Street, N.W. The Phillips Collection is located in the Dupont Circle area, one-half block off of Massachusetts Avenue on 21st Street, between Q and R Streets. Offices and Visitor information: (202) 387-2151. Metro Stop: RED line of the Metro to the Dupont Circle Station. Exit to Q street (Dupont Circle North exit). At the top of the escalator, go left on Q street one block to 21st Street. The museum entrance is located halfway up 21st Street on the left.
The newly-renovated Renwick Museum houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection of contemporary craft and decorative art. The museum’s building is the first to be built expressly as an art museum in the United States. The Renwick Museum is located at Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street NW. Museum Information (recorded): (202) 633-7970. Metro stop: Farragut West (Orange line) and Farragut North (Red line).
The Textile Museum’s nearly one-hundred year history features a collection covering six continents and five millennia. The museum is located at 701 21st Street, NW. Telephone: (202) 994-5200. Metro stop: Foggy Bottom-GWU (Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines) and Farragut North (Red Line).
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Museum is located just south of Independence Ave., SW. between 14th Street and Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th St.). There is an entrance also on 14th street, next to the Bureau of Printing & Engraving. 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. ONLY the Permanent Exhibition requires a timed entry pass to begin the self-guided tour of the Museum's primary exhibition. Passes are FREE and are NOT required for the Museum's other exhibitions, memorials, resources and facilities. Metro Stop: Smithsonian on the blue or orange lines exit at 12th and Independence Avenue. Telephone: (202) 488-0400.
United States Navy Memorial and Visitors Center
Located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 123, Washington, D.C, 20004-2608, between 7th and 9th Streets. Metro stop: Archives (Green and Yellow Lines). There is a Motor Coach Drop on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between 7th and 9th Streets, in front of the U.S. Navy Memorial. The Memorial offers a Concert Hotline at (202) 737-2300 ext. 768 for updated schedules or cancellations due to weather.
Henry Bacon Drive & Constitution Avenue, NW. Metro Stop: Smithsonian - comes out on the National Mall. Telephone: (202) 426-6841.
The Voice of America Studio Tour is a behind-the-scenes look at live broadcasting in radio, television, and the Internet in several of the 44 languages used by the VOA. Tours are free to the public, guided with audio and video features, and last 45 minutes. Reservations are recommended but not required. Tours are offered at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Voice of America is located at 330 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20237 Metro stop: Federal Center S.W. (Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines). Phone: (202) 203-4990.
On the Mall at 15th Street, SW. Tickets are required. They are free and available at the booth located on the west side of 15th Street, NW, on the Mall. Advance Tickets (small fee charged): Ticketmaster: (DC Metro) 202-432-7328 (Outside DC) 1-800-551-7328. Facilities: Bookstore, Restrooms, Museum. Information: (202) 426-6841. Metro stop: Smithsonian (Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines).
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Public tours of the White House are available. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM Fridays, and 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM 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 three months in advance and no less than 3 weeks 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. Metro: McPherson Square (Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines).
Note: Tours are subject to cancellations or time changes. For the most up-to-date information about touring and visiting the White House, call the 24-hour Visitors Office Info Line at 202-456-7041