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Touring the Three Houses of Government
The White House, the Capitol and the Supreme Court

By Rachel Cooper, About.com

When sightseeing in Washington, D.C., the White House, the Capitol and the Supreme Court are key places to visit. Touring these impressive buildings will help you understand more about our government and its history. Plan ahead and find out about schedules and special events.

Visiting the White House

The White House is the home and office of the President and is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. To arrange a tour you must make a request through one of your members of Congress. Group tours are held Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 a. m. through 11:30 a. m. and are scheduled one month in advance.

Without advance planning, you can visit the White House Visitor Center, located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets, which is open daily from 7:30 a. m. until 4 p.m. View a short video and learn about the White House architecture, furnishings, and the Presidents and first families. Listen to musical performances featuring the U. S. Air Force Band, the U. S. Army Band, the U. S. Navy Band or other military bands. Read more...

Visiting the U. S. Capitol

At the east end of the National Mall stands the majestic U. S. Capitol Building. Because of increased security, the Capitol is open to the public for guided tours only. Tours are conducted from 9 a. m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visitors must obtain free tickets through a Senator, Representative or online. Read more...

Visiting the U. S. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, our highest judicial authority, is located at One 1st St., NE between E. Capitol Street and Maryland Avenue. Court is in session Monday through Wednesday from 10 a. m. until noon, October though April. You can watch a case being argued but seating is limited. Arrive at least an hour early to wait in line.

When the court is not in session you can tour the building and attend a free lecture about court proceedings and the building’s architecture. Lectures are given from 9:30 a. m. to 3:30 p. m.Read more...
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