Meet your guide at your hotel and make your way to the National Mall. For more than 200 years, the National Mall has symbolized our nation and its democratic values, which have inspired the world. The National Mall – the great swath of green in the middle of our capital city stretching from the foot of the United States Capitol to the Potomac River – is the premiere civic and symbolic space in our nation. The 1,000-acre green space includes the Washington Monument, the Lockkeeper’s House, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.
After exploring the monuments, continue your tour and see the inner workings of the executive, judicial, and legislature branches of the government. Head to the White House for a tour of the exterior of the executive mansion. From your vantage point on Pennsylvania Ave, you will see the north side. Your guide will discuss the long history of the house and residence.
- Interior tours of the White House can only be booked by Senators, Members of Congress, or embassy offices
Following the White House, head to the Capitol Building, home to the United States Congress. During the tour, you’ll screen the short film, “Out of Many, One,” which tells the story of representative democracy and its creation. Following the short film, you’ll head deeper in the Capitol Building where you’ll experience the Crypt, the Rotunda (dome), and National Statuary Hall and hear some surprising secrets about the Supreme Court and America’s Temple of Justice. Finish up the tour in the Capitol Building where you’ll hear about the judicial functions of the Supreme Court, the responsibilities of the judges, and their remarkable stories.
The final stop on the tour is the Jefferson Building in the Library of Congress. The building itself is a masterpiece of art and architecture, but the jewel in its crown is the view from the overlook into the stunning main reading room. During the tour, you’ll also see a handwritten copy of the Bible from 1450 and rare books from Thomas Jefferson’s personal collection.
- Please note that this tour is not available on Sundays. For a tour on a Saturday, the interior of the Supreme Court building will not be included.
If you would like more information or to reserve this program, please click here.
