While you are visiting the Washington D.C. area, there are many historical and interesting places to see. Senator Nickles' Washington, D.C., office can submit tour requests for the Capitol building, White House, FBI, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, State Department, Supreme Court and the Kennedy Center. To reserve a tour, we ask you notify our office at least three months prior to your anticipated tour date.

Unfortunately, requests made by senatorial offices do not guarantee a tour. Following is information about each of these attractions and, when available, links to their web sites. If you need further information or wish to request assistance from the office, please contact our Tour Coordinator at 202-224-5754.

U.S. Capitol
Passes to view the House and Senate while in session are available from Senator Nickles' Washington office, 133 Hart Senate Office Building, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You may reserve a tour through our office but expect to arrive early and spend some time in line as we wait to go through the extra security. Timed tickets are available to the general public at 8:15 a.m. at the East Front of the Capitol. These tickets will have a specified tour time for later in the day. We cannot reserve tours for weekends or holidays but tickets will be available at the regular 8:15 a.m. ticket booth on Saturday (closed on Sunday).

The White House (Open only to school groups, school-aged youth groups and veteran groups)
The White House encourages you to take advantage of the White House Visitor Center located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets in the Department of Commerce Building. The Center is open seven days a week from 7:30 am until 4:00 pm and features many aspects of the White House, including its architecture, furnishings, first families, social events, and relations with the press and world leaders, as well as a thirty-minute video. The National Park Service at the White House Visitor Center is also available to provide your group with a variety of alternative experiences related to the White House. These include guided walks, talks, films and lectures. For more information, please call 202-208-1631.

Supreme Court
Public tour lectures begin every hour on the half-hour, and include a film and exhibits. Tour hours are Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed the month of August.

The Court can be observed in session from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 1p.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the days cases are being tried. Courtroom seats are available on a first-come basis.

Federal Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Public tours are available between 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and last 40 minutes. Tickets are required for this tour and may be obtained from the Ticket office (located on the 14th Street side of the building) from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Tickets are distributed on a first-come basis.

Congressional tour tickets may be picked up at the Bureau's will-call window. All tickets are for the same tour.

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Public tours leave every 20 minutes from the E Street entrance and last one hour. Expect a one hour wait, even if there is a reservation. Closed weekends.

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Congressional tours start at the Parking Level A, between the Hall of States and the Hall of Nations. One pass per group is needed and can be obtained in advance from Senator Nickles' Washington office.

Department of State
Visitors must contact Senator Nickles' Washington office for name reservations. To be admitted into the Department, visitors must have a name reservation and a photo ID. No public tours are available.