Visiting the White House
 

In a couple of weeks as you may have guessed through a number of threads I have started here I am travelling to Washington DC.

I fly in on Friday afternoon and leave late the following Tuesday evening.

I am hoping to visit the White House:

-is it open at the moment?
-what is the best day to visit to avoid queues?
-I have heard to avoid queues to get there at 6am, is that right?
-any other tips?

Thanks again
Fraser

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'There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror'
Orson Welles (1915–1985)

After 9/11 the White House "temporarily" suspended tours. That's still in effect except for certain groups - school kids, veterans - and those tours are by advance arrangement. You can go to the Visitor's Center. http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/tours/



[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 08-23-2003).]

I've heard that it helps if you're an oil/energy company executive. But that may just be a vicious rumor.

Just say that "Tony sent ya'..."


That should work... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

One word of advice when you go. Don't touch *anything*! Even the wall that you are standing beside in line. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/eek.gif This from the voice of experience. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

Your best bet is to contact and beg your Congressman. They may get you in somehow...

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www.witold.org

..except the original poster is from the U.K. and would not have a Congressman.

Are you visiting somebody over here in the states? If you are ask they ask their congressman to see if they can get you the VIP passes to visit the White House. Usually it takes way more then two weeks notice (mine is out for months), but its worth a shot.

I heard that the way Americans can get into the visitors gallery in Parliament is to ask to borrow the passes that the American Embassy has.
I enquired once long ago, it seemed like it MIGHT work, once I found the person who knew about these passes.

Maybe the reverse works and your embassy in Washington can help you. Seems like a longshot, but maybe worth an email in advance.

I have a friend going to D.C. next month and we checked with the office of my Member of Congress (Peter Deutsch), who verified the information in letiole's post - and that there is no anticipated resumption of either the Congresional or the General tours anytime soon (maybe 20.01.2005)??

The great advantage to the suspended Congressional Tours was that they had a fixed start time (08:00 - avoiding the long general queue) and often included a public room that was not on the general tour.

The FBI Tour (including the quite interesting Crime Lab) is also suspended, although the stated reason is for "remodeling" (I guess a few nekkid statues still need coverings) http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

Unfortunately the Rotunda of the National Archives (housing the Charters of Freedom - Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights) is closed for the completion of its remodeling and will open on 18 September (since you are from the UK that may be just as well) http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

Nope, not a chance to go inside.

These people:http://www.washingtonwalks.com/scheduled-walks.html#un-tour
offer tours around the White House and tell you stories and everything. I gotten them recommended by a friend but havent had a chance to try them out because time ran out and my feet were declining their service anyway.

If you're visiting U.S. friends or associates have one of them call their congressional representative tomorrow and ask for a pass. I would also call the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.

British Embassy
3100 Massachusetts Avenue,
Washington DC, 20008
(202) 588 7800

The House of Representatives site has a nice summary webpage of visitor information. Be sure to navigate down to "Tours and Other Places of Interest"


http://www.house.gov/house/tour_dc.html


BTW the FBI tour will resume in Fall 2004.