White House Tour?

[paysensmom]

We would love to tour the white house. Could someone tell me the steps I need to take to get that to happen? We live 3 1/2 hours from DC right now and we move in June. So, only a few months to get approved. My husband is in the military, so do we contact the congressman from our state of residency? Or is there another way?
Any advice would be great,
Thanks,
Heather

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I would contact the Congressman for your state of residency. Also, you need to have a group of 10 to apply for a tour. Good luck.

 

[hniki234]

My DBF and I were able to tour the White House a little over a year ago. We just contacted our representative and were able to get in on one of the tours. We weren't told we had to have a group of 10 or anything.

 

[3DisneyGals&1Grumpy]

Hi Heather,

You may want to try the military angle first.

Each branch of the military service has staff assigned to the White House. Most of them are allowed to sponsor a certain amount of people each month to tour the White House. Does your DH know anyone in one of these billets? An old classmate or someone from a previous duty station? If so, this can be the quickest and easiest way to get a tour.

Quite often, it turns out to be a little more detailed than the "normal" tour and you can usually get a little gossip like which Senator thought he was to important to wait in line at the dinner party the night before or who had a little too much to drink.

 

[Longsx3]

When DD and I were going to be visiting DC from Okinawa last summer her first request was to tour the White House, after some research it looked like I was out of luck. On a whim I wrote Vice President Cheney, with in a few days I recieved a response...DD and I had a private tour summer.

 

[paysensmom]

Hey,
thank you all so much!! Gonna ask hubby if he has any "ins"!!

 

[rflorek]

IAlso, you need to have a group of 10 to apply for a tour. Good luck.

You don't personally have to have a group of 10. What your COngressperson will do is combine your request with others he/she may receive, or with lists from other COngresspeople to total a group of 10.

 

[isla bonita]

My DBF and I were able to tour the White House a little over a year ago. We just contacted our representative and were able to get in on one of the tours. We weren't told we had to have a group of 10 or anything.

Same for us we had 4 thats it and it was wonderful.

 

[DebMcDonald]

We're going in April and I contacted our Senator in January and they put your name on a list and if they can get you tickets they will mail them to you. He virtually said if you don't hear from us, we couldn't help you, (so don't call us back). I would almost think you'd be better off with a military in, in my opinion you and your family deserve the tour more than my family and hopefully would be bumped to the top of the list.

Good Luck.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

We plan on going to DC in June and I am also interested in doing this. Does anyone know do you send a request for a certain day or just send a request along with the dates you will be in DC? Thanks

 

[DebMcDonald]

I wrote an email and then got an e.mail back with a phone number to call and I told them the days I would be in DC and if they have something they will just send the tickets.

 

[paysensmom]

Would you mind sharing the number? Or is it just for your state? By the way, if anyone knows who to contact in Texas, that would be great!!
Thank you!

 

[kctwinmommy]

Check your congressman's website, there's usually info on there. You don't need a group of 10 like someone else said. They put everyone in groups to go through.

 

[DebMcDonald]

Would you mind sharing the number? Or is it just for your state? By the way, if anyone knows who to contact in Texas, that would be great!!
Thank you!

I called Senator Kennedy's office so that would not work for you in Texas, but google search your Texas senator and you will find contact into right on their website.

 

[Winston1204]

I'm from CT and I just contacted Senator Joe Lieberman's Office. I told one of his Staff that we were interested in the tour. I told him we were flexible with dates (anytime between April - July). We are close enough that we can drive to DC on the weekends, or even take a day off of work if need be. He basically told me he would correspond with me through e-mail but he wouldn't know anything until a few weeks before the tour date. They put in your request, and as it gets closer to the date you want, then you will hear back I guess. He told me I could call back after April if I'd like since April is pretty much booked up because of April Vacation Week. So, if I don't hear anything by the end of April I will probably end up calling back. Also, I told him there would only be 2 of us, and he said that was no problem at all. So I guess they just put you with other people to try and make groups of 10.

 

[3darlings]

The WH tours are booked exactly 30 days before the actual tour date. So you may put your request in with your Senator or Congressman earlier (which you will definitely need to do) but they won't actually book it until 30 days before. The member's office can put the request in up to six months before the date. That's why they won't be able to tell you any earlier than that date. Obviously some times are busier (i.e. summer) and therefore they are more difficult to book. Good luck!

 

[DisneyDotty]

I understand there are some "West Wing" tours--not available unless you know someone who knows someone. Anyone know anything about this?

We did the regular White House tour--truthfully, I was underwhelmed. There's not much to it. Be aware that you can't take anything in--cell phones, purses, etc. And there's no where to store things in DC (other than in your car/hotel room).

The tour we loved was the Capitol building. We arranged it through our Congressman (Hastert--just as he was downsizing from his three offices as Speaker of the House to one). His aide was amazing--gave us a great tour of over two hours, very knowledgeable and personable.

 

[MickeyP]

So......what are people doing w/ their personal items? Do they have lockers to rent, or will they hold it for you? Jeepers, who wants to leave their purse or wallet behind?

 

[Sammybeau's Mom]

For those of you going to DC, be sure to get Washington Monument tickets in advance too if you want to go up in it. There is a website where you can get them. I think there is a $2.50 fee but well worth it.

We did not get them in advance and my husband got up and stood in line before dawn to get the ones they handed out that day for free....so we could go. The tickets were gone pretty quick...most of those in line did not get any that day. I had just waited too long for the website and all those were gone.

 

[DisneyDotty]

So......what are people doing w/ their personal items? Do they have lockers to rent, or will they hold it for you? Jeepers, who wants to leave their purse or wallet behind?

No lockers--not anywhere near the White House, anyway. A D.C. security guard told me you'd be hard pressed to find one anywhere in the area--too much of a security risk.
We were able to take ID/money in our pockets--as well as kleenex, lip balm, etc. But no cell phone--ours has a camera built in. Not allowed.
Your Congressman's aide (who sets up the tour for you) will give you all the details when he/she gets your ID information from you.