I hope you will be amazed by all that our Nation’s Capitol has to offer. While you are here, be sure to take advantage of the history and culture surrounding you. The monuments and museums are a testament to our shared story as Americans. I wish you the best on your upcoming adventure and hope that you cherish the memories of your visit.
If you are visiting the Senate, please stop by my office to talk story and get a little taste of home! My staff and I are here to help you have an enjoyable, memorable visit.
My office can help you with scheduling tours of several historic sites in the city. If you would like to request any tours, please fill out the form below.
Update on Tours in Washington DC (February 1, 2025):
As of February 1st, 2025, our office is only able to assist with booking tours of the White House and FBI. Please read below for an update on White House tour bookings. All other tours can be self-booked using the links provided. We welcome Hawaii school groups visiting Washington DC to reach out to our office for additional opportunities, resources, and assistance with booking group tours.
White House Tours
Effective May 7, 2025, U.S. citizens must present a REAL ID or passport to access the White House Complex. Non-REAL IDs will no longer be accepted for any guests. For more information about REAL ID, please see here.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact my office at (202) 224-6361 or at Hirono_Tours@hirono.senate.gov
When sending a written request, please make sure to include your name, address and phone number, the places you would like to visit, the number of tickets you want and your dates of travel. If you have any questions, you may also contact the office by phone at (202) 224-6361.
Capitol Visitor Center (CVC)
The Capitol Visitors Center has begun offering tours exclusively to school groups. Tour slots are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please request a tour through our webform.
The CVC is now offering an expanded array of live online classes and resources about the U.S. Capitol and Congress. To access a virtual tour of the Capitol, interactive online programs, self-guided e-learning tools, worksheets and much more visit the CVC’s website here.
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art has reopened to the public. The Gallery is open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and passes are not required. For more information, visit their website here.
The United States Capitol is a monument, a working office building, and one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world. Visitors can enter the Capitol through the Capitol Visitor Center located on the East Front Plaza at First Street and North Capitol Street, NE. The Capitol Visitor Center is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm everyday except Sunday and the following holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Inauguration Day. In the Capitol Visitor Center, you can browse through the Exhibition Hall, shop at the Gift Stores, and dine at the restaurant. For more information, please visit the Capitol Visitor Center website.
Visitors can self-book a Capitol tour hosted by official tour guides on the Capitol Visitor Center website here. If you need assistance with making a reservation, my office will be happy to request tickets for a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol and provide you with Gallery passes to both the House and Senate Galleries.
Please be at the Capitol Visitor Center under the east front of the Capitol (1st Street entrance) at least 30 minutes prior to your tour time. Please also be sure to read the prohibited items section of the confirmation email in order to ensure a quick entry into the Capitol. If you are using the metro system, the closest station is Union Station.
Our office is currently only able to offer staff-led tours of the US Capitol Building to Hawaii school groups and organizations. Staff-led Capitol tours can be requested from Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The CVC is now offering an expanded array of live online classes and resources about the U.S. Capitol and Congress. To access a virtual tour of the Capitol, interactive online programs, self-guided e-learning tools, worksheets and much more visit the CVC’s website here.
Self-guided tours are generally available 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday as well as 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday (excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted). When possible, public tour hours will be extended based on the official White House schedule.
White House tour requests may be submitted to our office up to 6 months in advance of the requested tour date. The White House Our office is able to submit requests to the White House 7-90 days in advance of the tour date, and tours often fill on the day they open. Our office will submit requests received over 90 days before the requested tour date as soon as the tour becomes available. Requests received less than 60 days before the requested date are not likely to be available. Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. All White House tours are free of charge. (Please note that White House tours schedules may change at any time, with little notice, due to inclement weather or scheduling conflicts, even after your tour is confirmed.)
*Note that while you may submit your request up to 6 months in advance, this does not guarantee that the White House will be able to accommodate your tour request. These tours are very limited and are subject to the schedule of the President.
IMPORTANT: Effective May 7, 2025, U.S. citizens must present a REAL ID or passport to access the White House Complex. Non-REAL IDs will no longer be accepted for any guests. For more information about REAL ID, please see here.
*Note that while you may submit your request up to 6 months in advance, this does not guarantee that the White House will be able to accommodate your tour request. These tours are very limited, and are subject to the schedule of the President. Our office typically does not receive a response from the White House until 1-2 weeks prior to the requested tour date, regardless of when the request was submitted.
Below are some additional places of interest to consider visiting during your trip. The following tours can be self-booked through the links provided:
The visitors center provides an introduction to many aspects of the White House, including its architecture, furnishings, first families, social events, and relations with the press and world leaders. At the Visitor Center, you can take a virtual tour of the White House, see a 14 minute video, entitled "White House: Reflections from Within," and purchase souvenirs at the gift shop run by the White House Historical Association. The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No reservation is necessary.
The Library of Congress Jefferson Building is located on the corner of First Street and Independence Ave, SE. Public walk-on tours are available Monday through Friday hourly from 10:30am to 3:30pm and on Saturdays from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Public Tours are available on federal holidays with the exceptions of New Year's Day, Inauguration Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Timed entry passes are required and can be self-booked here. Our office is unable to schedule tours on your behalf at this time.
Self-guided tours of the Supreme Court are open to the public Monday-Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm (*please check here before your visit for any events that may affect your visit.) No reservation is necessary. Please see here for more information regarding visiting the court.
The Kennedy Center provides a variety of guided tours. The tour also includes the majestic Hall of States Hall of Nations and five of the Center's main theaters, including its three grand performance halls (the Concert Hall, Opera House, and Eisenhower Theater). From the magnificent Opera House chandelier, a gift from Austria that measures 50 feet across, to the 3,700 tons of marble from Carrara, Italy, lining the walls of the Hall of Nations, to the gorgeous Israeli Lounge, these gems reflect the many extraordinary gifts from the governments of more than 60 countries that make the Kennedy Center truly an international destination. For more information, visit the Kennedy Center website.
* Kennedy Center Tours typically last from 1 hour – 1 hour 30 min.
* For directions to the Kennedy Center, please visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/visit/
UPDATE: The Kennedy Center has resumed tours which are offered on a walk-in basis only. For more information and a schedule of events, visit the Center's website here. My office is unable to schedule tours on your behalf at this time.
In addition to the Library of Congress and Kennedy Center, the following attractions have reopened and do not require bookings through my office.
The National Archives Museum is home of the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights which are housed in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom; the Public Vaults permanent exhibit gallery; the David M. Rubenstein Gallery, the Lawrence F. O'Brien temporary exhibit gallery; the Boeing Learning Center; and the William G. McGowan Theater.
The National Archives Museum is open every day except Thanksgiving and December 25 (see Museum Hours for operating schedule). Reservations are not required for individuals or groups wishing to enter the National Archives Museum through the general public entrance. The general public entrance is
located at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 9th Street. For more information, please visit Daily Visits: http://www.archives.gov/nae/visit/reserved-visits.html
UPDATE: The National Archives is open to the public between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Timed-entry passes are available in advance, with limited same-day availability. To reserve your passes, see here.
The National Gallery of Art has reopened to the public. The Gallery is open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and passes are not required. For more information, visit their website here.
The Pentagon, headquarters of the Department of Defense, is one of the world’s largest office buildings. It has over 23,000 employees and has floor space of three Empire State Buildings. Construction was started on the Pentagon in 1941. In 1976, as a part of America’s Bicentennial celebration, the Pentagon began offering tours to the public.
Pentagon tours are available on a limited basis for U.S. citizens on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tour is about one hour and covers a distance of roughly 1.5 miles. Tours are free but reservations are required. U.S. citizens who would like to tour the Pentagon must register at least two weeks in advance and will require clearance to enter the Pentagon by the Pentagon Forces Protection Agency. Tours are scheduled on a first-come-first-serve basis. For more details please visit their website here. To reserve a tour create an account here. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing:
Open M-F from 9am-2pm they offer tours to see how our currency is printed. To make an online reservation for tour tickets click here. To order tickets over the phone, or for additional support, call (855) 391-2990. One adult can reserve up to nine (9) tour tickets. To reserve a tour for groups of more than 10, visit Group Reservations for details. A limited number of same-day tickets for tour times throughout the day will be available at the entrance beginning at 9 a.m., on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Tour and Visitor Center Entrance is located at 14th and C Streets, S.W., Wash., D.C. 20228.
The Washington Monument dominates the DC skyline as a tribute to George Washington's military leadership, statesmanship, and wisdom. Constructed from marble, granite and gneiss, the monument is the world's tallest free-standing stone structure, towering 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches (169 meters) above the nation’s capital. Visitors enter the monument and then ascend via elevator to the 500-foot level to behold sweeping views of the city. Order tickets online up to a month in advance of your visit. The Washington Monument Lodge, located along 15th Street between Madison and Jefferson drives, opens at 8:45 a.m. for distribution of free, same day, timed tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. During peak season, tickets run out quickly. Be advised that many visitors form a line to wait long before the ticket window opens. For more information and to reserve your ticket, click here.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact my office at (202) 224-6361 or at tours@hirono.senate.gov.
If you are visiting the Senate, please stop by my office to talk story and get a little taste of home! My staff and I are here to help you have an enjoyable, memorable visit.