Visiting the White House

 

White House Tours

As President Obama likes to say, "This is the People's House". In a spirit of openness and transparency, the Obama Administration is expanding the White House Tour program making it easier than ever for visitors to get an in-depth view of the White House.

Previously, White House tours could only be arranged through the office of your Member of Congress six months in advance. The Obama Administration has streamlined the process by implementing an online White House Tour ticketing system. The White House successfully introduced a similar online ticketing system for the 2009 Easter Egg Roll.

Tour Information

In addition to making it easier to obtain White House tour tickets, the Obama Administration has dramatically increased the scope of the tour itself. While previous administrations granted visitors access to the East, Green, Blue, Red, and State Dining rooms, President Obama has decided to include additional areas of the White House in the tour.

Visitors will enter the White House complex from the south side of East Executive Avenue. After passing through the security screening room, guests will walk along the ground-floor corridor and look through the doors of the Vermeil room and Library; then walk upstairs to the first floor and through the East, Green, Blue, Red, and State Dining rooms. This is where the previous White House tours ended.

Expanded Tour Areas: Residence, Tunnel System, Oval Office

Under the newly expanded White House Tour, guests will then walk upstairs to the second floor to view the Lincoln Bedroom, the Queen's Bedroom, and President Obama's Master Bedroom. Note: this section of the tour is subject to cancellation if occupied by any member of the First Family. After a quick stop at the Truman Balcony, visitors will proceed down to the basement of the residence to an unmarked storage closet opposite the President's private elevator.

This closet leads to a secret tunnel connecting the residence to the Oval Office. This tunnel is part of an extensive underground tunnel system leading to various government locations throughout the DC area including the subterranean Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) under the East Wing. White House visitors will exit the tunnel via a hidden door adjacent to the President's rest room next to the Oval Office.

At this point, a decision will be made whether it is convenient for President Obama to have guests peek inside the Oval Office. Please remember the President is a busy man and will usually not have time to chat with visitors. If allowed to proceed, guests will slowly and quietly circle around the Oval Office one time. It is important for visitors to walk at a steady pace with no unexpected movements.

After exiting the Oval Office, the White House tour is officially over. Hungry visitors may proceed to the basement of the West Wing to the White House Mess for a quick meal or snack. Be careful not to accidentally enter the Situation Room which is located nearby. Secret Service agents are conveniently stationed throughout the White House complex in case you need directions. Below is a sample menu from the White House Mess along with an autographed box of Presidential M&M's

White House Tour Tickets

All guests 14 years of age or older are required by the United States Secret Service to submit their name, date of birth, social security number and country of citizenship. White House tour tickets are available on a first come first served basis by submitting your request here. All guests will be required to present photo identification with information exactly matching the name previously submitted for clearance. Individuals whose identification does not exactly match the name cleared for entry may be denied access.

Prohibited Items

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following: handbags, book bags, backpacks, purses, food and beverages of any kind, strollers, cameras, video recorders or any type of recording device, tobacco products, personal grooming items (make-up, hair brush or comb, lip or hand lotions, etc.), any pointed objects (pens, knitting needles, etc.), aerosol containers, guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or knives of any size. The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items. Umbrellas, wallets, cell phones and car keys are permitted.

Parking

The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines), Metro Center (blue, orange, and red lines) and McPherson Square (blue and orange lines). On-street parking is not available near the White House, and use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.

Restrooms

The nearest public restrooms to the White House are in the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (the park area south of the White House) and in the White House Visitor Center. Please take advantage of these public facilities prior to your tour. Should you require the use of a restroom while in the White House, please ask the nearest Secret Service agent to escort you.