Take Public Transportation to Historic Sites & Government Buildings in D.C.

The destinations listed below are accessible by Metrorail, Metrobus, and other public transportation systems.

Please confirm times, fees, and directions. Hours of operation, entrance fees, and other information are subject to change. Please confirm with the venue you plan to visit. Phone numbers and Web links are provided. Most directions provided are from the nearest Metrorail station. (See interactive Metrorail system map.) Bus routes and their days and hours of operation are also subject to change. Get the most up-to-date directions, or find a more direct route from your D.C.-area location, by using Metro's Trip Planner. Addresses are provided to plug into the Trip Planner's destination field.

Have a favorite destination that you think should be added to our growing list? Send detailed information about how to get there by public transportation to our webmaster.

Anderson Cottage United States Soldier's and Airman's Home | Battleground National Cemetery | Bureau of Engraving & Printing | Congressional Cemetery | Decatur House | Dumbarton Oaks | Eastern Market | Federal Bureau of Investigation | Ford's Theatre National Historic Site | Fort Stevens | Franciscan Monastery | Frederick Douglass National Historic Site | Library of Congress | Mary McLeod Bethune National Historic Site | National Archives Building | National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception | The Old Post Office Pavilion | Old Stone House | Peirce Mill | Scottish Rite House of the Temple | Sewall-Belmont House | St. Matthew's Cathedral | Supreme Court of the United States | Tudor Place | Union Station | U.S. Capitol | U.S. Department of State | U.S. Treasury | Washington National Cathedral | The Washington Post | White House | White House Visitors Center | Woodrow Wilson House Museum

Anderson Cottage United States Soldier's And Airmen's Home

Rock Creek Church Road at Upshur Street, NW, Washington, DC
1-800-422-9988

Constructed during the early 1840s as a summer residence for the family of George W. Riggs, co-founder of what is today the Riggs National Bank, the Anderson Cottage is most remembered as a summer White House for three US presidents: Presidents Abraham Lincoln from 1862-1864, Rutherford B. Hayes from 1877-1880 and Chester Arthur from 1882-1884. President Abraham Lincoln is reported to have written the second draft of the Emancipation Proclamation here before presenting it to Congress. The desk on which he reputedly worked on the Emancipation Proclamation is located in the Homes museum. Established nearly 150 years ago, the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home has beautiful, century-old structures throughout its grounds.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Rhode Island Avenue station. Exit the station and take Metrobus H8 toward Mt. Pleasant to the stop at Rock Creek Church Road NW & Upshur Street NW.

Battleground National Cemetery

6625 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
(202) 895-6070

Battleground National Cemetery was established shortly after the Battle of Fort Stevens in the summer of 1864. The battle, which lasted two days (July 11 through July 12, 1864) marked the defeat of General Jubal A. Early's Confederate campaign to launch an offensive action against the poorly defended Nation's Capital. The Battle of Fort Stevens was also to gain notoriety as being the only military action in which the Commander in Chief (President Abraham Lincoln) came under direct fire from an enemy force. With a combined total casualty figure of over 900 killed or wounded during the conflict, 41 of these (Union) soldiers who fought and died bravely in Fort Steven's defense were interred in a specially created cemetery dedicated by Abraham Lincoln. Battleground National Cemetery, located one-half mile north of Fort Stevens, is one acre in size and one of our Nation's smallest national cemeteries. The entrance to the Cemetery is flanked by two 6-pounder, smoothbore guns of Civil War vintage. Also near the entrance are monuments commemorating those units which fought at Fort Stevens: 25th New York Volunteer Cavalry Monument, 98th Pennsylvania Volunteer Monument, 122nd New York Volunteer Monument, and the 150th Ohio National Guard Monument.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Silver Spring station, exit the station and take Metrobus 70 toward 9th and Maine St. SW, or Metrobus 71 toward Buzzard Point to the stop at Georgia Avenue NW & Van Buren Street NW. Walk a short distance north on Georgia Avenue.

Bureau of Engraving & Printing

U.S. Treasury Department, 14th & C Streets, SW, Washington, DC 20228
(202) 874-3019

At the Bureau of Engraving & Printing visitors see currency printed at the rate of 8,000 sheets per hour on the self-guided, 35-minute tour. Admission is free, but tickets are required (available on a first-come, first-served basis). Extended evening public tours are available June through August.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to the Smithsonian station, exit the station and walk 1 block south on 12th Street SW. Turn right on C Street SW and walk 2 blocks. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

Historic Congressional Cemetery

1801 E Street, SE, Washington, DC
(202) 543-0539

Historic Congressional Cemetery is the nation's first national cemetery. Founded in 1807, it is the final resting place of more than 70,000 military and civilian people who helped in the development of Washington, DC and the United States. There are many famous and infamous people interred here including J. Edgar Hoover, John Philip Sousa, Mathew Brady, Elbridge Gerry, William Thornton, Robert Mills and Adelaide Johnson.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to the Stadium Armory station. Exit the station toward D.C. General Hospita, walk 1 block south on 19th Street SE, turn right on Potomac Avenue SE, and walk 1 block southwest. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

The Stephen Decatur House Museum 748 Jackson Place, NW, Washington, DC 20006 (202) 842-0920

Decatur House is one of the oldest surviving homes in Washington, DC, and one of only three remaining residential buildings in the country designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the father of American architecture. Completed in 1818 for naval hero Stephen Decatur and his wife Susan, its distinguished neo-classical architecture and prominent location across from the White House made Decatur House one of the capital's most desirable addresses and home to many of our Nation's most prominent figures. Decatur House includes 8 period rooms featuring a collection of 19th-century decorative arts, Chinese porcelain and navy memorabilia. Open Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Docent-led tours depart every half-hour and generally last 30 to 45 minutes. Tickets are available in the Museum Shop. Admission is $4.00 for Adults, $2.50 for Senior Citizens, Students, and Children under age 12.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to Farragut West station. Exit the station and walk 1 block South on Connecticut Avenue NW, continue walking straight onto Jackson Place NW and walk 1 block South to Decatur House.

Or take Metrorail's Red Line to Farragut North station, exit the station and walk 1 block east on K Street NW, turn right on 17th Street NW and walk 1 block. Continue walking straight onto Connecticut Avenue NW, walk 1 block and continue walking straight onto Jackson Place NW. Walk 1 block to Decatur House. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

Dumbarton Oaks

1703 32nd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 339-6410

Dumbarton Oaks is located in residential Georgetown. The original Federal-style house was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss in 1920. They added the Music Room in 1929 and the wing to house their Byzantine collection in 1940. The same year they built this wing, they gave the house, gardens, and collections to Harvard University. In 1963, the Pre-Columbian wing, designed by Philip Johnson, and the Garden Library were added to display Mr. Bliss's collection of Pre-Columbian art, which had been on long-term loan to the National Gallery of Art, and Mrs. Bliss's collection of rare and modern books related to all aspects of the history of gardens. Museum entrance is on 32nd Street NW between R and S Streets. Surrounding the building on its north, south, and east sides are ten acres of formal gardens. The garden entrance is on R and 31st Streets, NW. Hours and fees.

Take Metrorail's Red, Orange, or Blue lines to Metro Center station, exit the station and take Metrobus D6 toward Sibley Hospital to the stop at Q Street & 31st Street NW and walk northwest on 31st Street.

Eastern Market

Seventh & C Streets, SE, Washington, DC

Located on Capitol Hill, Eastern Market is the last brick city market in the District of Columbia. The historical market building is home to performers and artists who display their talent and crafts throughout the week. On Saturday and Sunday, there are craft and flea markets where vendors sell handmade wares as well as antiques and collectibles. Fresh produce and meats can be bought year round. Across the street are several antique dealers. Hours and phone numbers.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue Lines to Eastern Market station. Exit the station and walk 1 block northwest on Pennsylvania Avenue, turn right on 7th Street and walk 1 block north to the Market. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building

935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20035
Tour Office: (202) 324-3447

The J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building, headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is undergoing renovation, and public tours have been discontinued indefinitely. Check the FBI Tours page for updates.

If you'd still like to go see the building, take Metrorail's Red, Yellow, or Green lines to Gallery Place-Chinatown station. Exit the station and walk 1 block West on G Street NW, turn left on 9th Street NW, walk 3 blocks to the FBI.

Or take Metrorail's Orange, Blue, or Red lines to Metro Center station. Exit the station and take Metrobus 66, 68, or S4 toward Federal Triangle to the Pennsylvania Avenue & 10th Street NW stop and walk 1 block east on Pennsylvania Avenue to the FBI building. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

Ford's Theatre National Historic Site

511 10th Street, NW, Washington, DC
(202) 426-6924

Restored in 1968, the 19th Century Ford's Theater is where President Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865. Today, the National Park Service and Ford's Theatre National Historic Site preserve the site of this tragic event. Park rangers give talks recounting the details of the assassination. In addition, the events of that evening are interpreted through the display of objects associated with the assassination located in the museum in the basement of the building.

The Lincoln Museum depicts the elaborate conspiracy planned by actor John Wilkes Booth, a supporter of the Confederate States of America, to assassinate the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of State in an attempt to throw the Nation into further political chaos.

The Petersen House (The House Where Lincoln Died), across the street from the theater, has been preserved and historically furnished to depict the scene of th night of Lincoln's assasination.

Or take Metrorail's Orange, Blue, or Red lines to Metro Center station. Exit the station and take Metrobus 66, 68, or S2 toward Federal Triangle to the 11th and E Street NW stop and walk 1 block east on E Street NW.

Hillwood Museum and Gardens

4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008
(202) 686-8500

Hillwood Museum and Gardens is a collector’s estate renowned for its extensive assemblage of 18th- and 19th- century French and imperial Russian decorative and fine arts. Former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, set amid 25 acres of small pleasure gardens and wooded hillsides in the heart of Washington, DC. Reservations are required for museum and garden tours and for the cafe. Hours and fees.

Take Metrorail’s Red Line to Cleveland Park station. Exit the station and take Metrobus H2 toward Van Ness-UDC, or Metrobus L2, or L4 toward Chevy Chase Circle, to the stop at Connecticut Avenue and Tilden Street NW. Walk 2 blocks East on Tilden Street NW, turn left on 29th Street NW, walk 1 block, turn right on Upton Street NW and walk 3 blocks to the Museum.

Or take the Red Line to Van Ness-UDC station, exit the station the take Metrobus H2 toward Brookland to the Connecticut Avenue and Tilden Street NW stop. Then walk 2 blocks east on Tilden Street NW, turn left on 29th Street NW, walk 1 block, turn right on Upton Street NW and walk 3 blocks to the museum.

Fort Stevens

13th and Quackenbos Streets, NW, Washington, DC
202-895-6070

Fort Stevens is adjacent to Rock Creek Park and managed by the National Park Service. The fort, now partially restored, was built to defend the approaches to Washington from the 7th Street Pike (now Georgia Avenue) which was then the main thoroughfare from the north into Washington. Originally called Fort Massachusetts by the soldiers from that state who constructed the fort, it was later named after Brigadier General Isaac Ingalls Stevens, who was killed at the Battle of Chantilly, Virginia, September 1, 1862. On July 12, President Abraham Lincoln went out to Fort Stevens with his wife and other officers and stood on the parapet calmly watching the battle. The Battle of Fort Stevens thus marks the only battle in which a President was present and under enemy fire while in office.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Silver Spring station, exit the station and take Metrobus 70 toward Half & O Streets SW to the stop at Georgia Avenue NW & Quackenbos Street NW. Walk north on Georgia Avenue NW, turn left on Quackenbos Street NW, and walk 1 block west.

Franciscan Monastery

1400 Quincy Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 526-6800

The Franciscan Monastery contains faithful replicas of the Holy Shrines in Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and Syria. Founded to educate Franciscan missionaries to the Holy Land, this stately retreat features an enclosed garden with a statue of Saint Francis and Holy Land shrines. Daily tours of the church and catacombs.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Brookland-CUA station. Exit the station and walk 1 block north on 10th Street NE, bear right on Michigan Avenue NE and walk 2 blocks. Turn right on Quincy Street NE and walk 3 blocks to the monestary. Or exit the station and take Metrobus H6 toward Fort Lincoln/Brookland to the Quincy Street & 14th Street NE stop at the monestary. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

1411 W Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020
(202) 426-5961

Authorized September 5, 1962, as Frederick Douglass Home; redesignated February 12,1988 as the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, this was the home of Frederick Douglass, the nation's leading 19th-century African American spokesman. Visitors to the site will learn more about his efforts to abolish slavery and his struggle for human rights, equal rights and civil rights for all oppressed people. Among Frederick Douglass' other achievements, he was U.S. minister to Haiti in 1889. The site is managed by the National Park Service. Site hours.

Take Metrorail's Green Line to the Anacostia Station. Exit the station and take Metrobus B2 toward Mt. Rainier or Metrobus U2 toward Minnesota Avenue Metro. The bus stop is directly in front of the home on W and Street, SE. Walk down W Street about 1/2 block to the Visitor Center on your right.

Library of Congress

101 Independence Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20540
(202) 707-8000

The Library of Congress is the world's largest library with almost 119 million items in three buildings. The Thomas Jefferson Building houses one of the world's three perfect vellum copies of the Gutenberg Bible and other changing exhibitions. On permanent display is American Treasures of the Library of Congress, a rotating exhibition of rare and unique items. Public tours are available. Hours.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to the Capitol South station. Exit the station, walk half a block uphill to the corner of 1st and C Sts, SE. Cross the walkway at C St, SE, head right and cross 1st St, SE to reach the James Madison Building. You may enter this building at the back entrance at 1st & C Sts, SE, or you may walk one block up 1st St, SE and turn right on Independence Ave, SE to access the main entrance. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

Or Take Metrorail's Red Line to Union Station. Exit the station and walk south on 1st St, NE towards the U.S. Capitol. This route will take you past the Russell and Dirksen Senate office buildings and the U.S. Supreme Court before you reach the Thomas Jefferson building on the left (east) side of 1st St, SE.

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site

1318 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 673-2402

The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site commemorates the life of Mary McLeod Bethune and the organization she founded, the National Council of Negro Women. The Bethune Council House was Mary McLeod Bethune's last official Washington, DC residence and the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women. Mary McLeod Bethune founded Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida and served as an advisor on African American affairs to four presidents. She was appointed Director of the Division of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration by President Roosevelt. She was the first African American woman to hold so high an office in the federal government. The site features the three-story Victorian town house which was her home when she was in Washington, DC and housed the offices of the National Council of Negro Women and a carriage house in which the National Archives for Black Women's History is located.Walk in visitors are welcome. Groups of 10 or more must make an appointment. Hours.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to McPherson Square station. Exit the station and walk north on 14th Street to Thomas Circle. Go around the circle to your right, turn right onto Vermont Avenue and walk 1 1/2 blocks to 1318 Vermont Avenue, NW.

National Archives Building

700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408
Toll Free: 1-866-325-7208

The National Archives Buiding is a facility of National Archives & Records Administration (NARA). NARA is an independent Federal agency that helps preserve our Nation's history by overseeing the management of all Federal records. Each year more than a million visitors come to the Rotunda of the National Archives Building to see the Charters of Freedom: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Take Metrorail's Yellow or Green lines to Archives/Navy Memorial station. The Archives building is across Pennsylvania Avenue from the station. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 400 Michigan Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20017 (202) 526-8300

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is located adjacent to the campus of The Catholic University of America. The numerous chapels located throughout the Shrine convey a remarkable story of the faith, devotion, struggles and triumphs of our nation's immigrant heritage. They also tell the story of the Catholic Church's emergence and evolution in this country and of the many hard-working men and women who, through much sacrifice, laid the foundations of their communities and ensured the expansion of the faith in the United States. Hours.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Brookland-CUA station. Exit the station to the Catholic University campus, bear left and walk about two blocks to the shrine. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

The Old Post Office Pavilion

1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington , DC 20004
(202) 289-4224

The Old Post Office Pavilion is located on Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Streets, NW, halfway between the White House and the United States Capitol. It is Washington, DC's first modern skyscraper standing an impressive 12 stories tall. Originally built to house the United States Post Office Department and the Washington, DC Post Office, the Old Post Office Pavillion is now a popular tourist attraction, featuring a food court, many small shops, daily entertainment and a dramatic view of the city from the 315-foot clock tower.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to Federal Triangle station, exit the station and walk 1 block north on 12th Street NW. Neighborhood map from StationMasters.com.

Old Stone House

3051 M Street, NW, Washington , DC
(202) 426-6851

The Old Stone House, one of the oldest known structures remaining in the Nation's capital, is a simple 18th century dwelling that was built and inhabited by common people. The house, now managed by the National Park Service, is a popular museum to everyday life of middle class colonial America. Its beautiful English garden is a restive oasis in the busy shopping district of Georgetown. Hours and tour information.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to Farragut West station, exit the station and take Metrobus 32, 34, 35, or 36 toward Georgetown or Friendship Heights or Metrobus 38B toward Ballston to the stop at 31st & M Streets NW. Walk 1 block east on M Street.

Peirce Mill, Peirce Barn Museum

Tilden Street and Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC
(202) 282-0927

Now managed by the National Park Service, Peirce Mill is a survivor, the last remnant of a 19th century complex of at least eight mills that once operated along Rock Creek in the District of Columbia. Founded by former Quakers who had emigrated from Chester County, Pennsylvania, Peirce Mill was the core of an estate of close to two thousand acres that stretched from Linnaean Hill (near what is now Tilden Street, and was once Peirce Mill Road) in the south, almost to the present Maryland border in the north. Despite changes over time, the sturdy exterior and interior retain the authentic appearance and atmosphere of a 19th century grist mill. At this writing, Peirce Mill is closed for repairs, but the nearby Peirce Barn Museum invites visitors tot he site and offers exhibits and programs related the mills of Rock Creek Park.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Cleveland Park station, exit the station to Connecticut Avenue-East (the east side of the street). Walk northwest along Connecticut Avenue about two blocks until you reach a small brown sign marking the "Melvin Hazen Trail." Take the half-mile trail downhill into Rock Creek Park. The trail ends at Picnic Grove 1 near the creek; turn left and the mill is one block ahead, just across Tilden Street.

House of the Temple Supreme Council Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite

1733 16th Street, NW, Washington , DC
(202) 232-3579

The Supreme Council Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite House of the Temple has been called a marvel of architecture, a wonder in stone, the spirit of the Scottish Rite captured for a moment in time. In splendid freemasonry style, the steps leading up to this fine, art deco/art moderne temple are in groups of 3, 5, 7 and 9. There are 33 stones surrounding the huge door at the entrance. The large, polychromatic urns in front were designed by John Earley, who also designed the bright murals along the walls of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart (16th and Park Road, NW).

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Dupont Circle station. Exit the station to Q Street NW, turn right and walk east on Q Street one block to New Hampshire Avenue. Turn left and walk two blocks northeast on New Hampshire to R Street NW. Turn right and walk two blocks east on R Street to 16th St. NW. Turn left and walk one block north to the Temple.

Or take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to McPherson Square station or the Red Line to Farragut North station. From either station, take Metrobus S2 or S4 toward Silver Spring to the stop at 16th Street NW & R Street NW. Walk one block north on 16th Street to the Temple.

Neighborhood map, hours and visitor information.

Sewall-Belmont House

144 Constitution Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 546-1210

The Sewall-Belmont House is a living monument to Alice Paul, author of the Equal Rights Amendment. From this house she led the fight for its passage in Congress. It was her leadership in suffrage and equal rights activities that culminated in the designation of this house as a National Historic Landmark on December 5, 1972, as it was the only site in the United States dedicated to the contemporary women's movement. In commemoration of her activities, Alice Paul was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York, in October 1979. The Sewall-Belmont House stands on Capitol Hill (formerly known as Jenkins Hill), which was part of the land granted to the Second Lord Baltimore by King Charles in 1632. Several times over the years the land changed hands until Daniel Carroll sold it to Robert Sewall in 1799. Mr. Sewall built a house on the property in 1800. The house is managed my the National Park Service..

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to Capitol South station, exit the station and walk north on 1st Street NE (in the direction of the Capitol) about four blocks, past the Capitol, the Library of Congress, and the Supreme Court, to Constitution Avenue. Turn right and walk one block on Constitution Avenue, past the Dirksen and Hart Senate Office Buildings (on your left). The Sewall-Belmont House will be on the left, at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 2nd Street NE. Use entrance on Constitution Avenue.

Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle

1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington , DC 20036
(202) 347-3215

Established in 1840, The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. It has been cited as having one of the most beautiful church interiors of modern times. President John F. Kennedy's funeral Mass was celebrated here on November 25, 1963. Pope John Paul II said Mass here on October 6, 1979 during his first visit to the U.S. Open Sunday-Friday, 6:30 am-6:30 p.m., and Saturday 7:30 am-6:30 p.m. Guided tours Sundays 2:30 p.m. or by appointment.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Farragut North station, exit the station and walk 1 block east on K Street NW, turn left on 17th Street NW, and walk 3 blocks north. Turn left on Rhode Island Avenue NW and walk 1 block southwest.

Supreme Court of the United States

One First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20543
(202) 479-3211

The Supreme Court offers a variety of educational programs. Exhibits, which are changed periodically, and a theater, where a film on the Supreme Court is shown, are located on the ground floor. Lectures in the Courtroom are given every hour on the half-hour, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. when court is not in session. Open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is closed Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. Admission is free.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to Capitol South station, or the Red Line to Union Station. From Capitol South, exit the station and walk 4 blocks north on 1st Street SE. From Union Station, exit the station and take Metrobus 96 toward Stadium Armory to the stop at East Capitol& 3st Streets SE, or take Metrobus 97 toward Capitol Heights Station to the stop at.East Capitol& 3st Streets SE, or take Metrobus N22 toward Navy Yard Station to the stop at East Capitol& 1st Streets SE.

Tudor Place

1644 31st Street, NW, Washington , DC 20007
(202) 965-0400

Tudor Place stands alone in the Nation's capital as a house of architectural distinction lived in by six generations of the same family from 1805 to 1984. Set in over five acres of garden, it provides the visitor a rare historical perspective. This Georgetown mansion and surrounding grounds were the home of Martha Custis Peter, granddaughter of Martha Washington. Hours and fees.

Take Metrorail's Red, Orange, or Blue lines to Metro Center station, exit the station and take Metrobus D6 toward Sibley Hospital to the stop at Q Street & 31st Street NW, then walk 1 block west on Q Street NW, turn right on 31st Street NW and walk 1 block north.

Union Station

40 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington , DC

At the time it was built, Union Station covered more ground than any other building in the United States and was the largest train station in the world. The Station sits on the edge of an area once known as "Swampoodle," an infamous shantytown located on the sewery remnants of Timber Creek. The total area occupied by the Station and the terminal zone was originally about 200 acres and included 75 miles of tracks. In fact, if put on its side, the Washington Monument could lay within the confines of the Station's concourse. Today, Union Station continues to make history as the most visited destination in the Nation's Capitol with over 23.5 million visitors a year. World-class exhibitions and international cultural events are hosted here for the public to enjoy.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Union Station.

U.S. Capitol

Capitol Hill, Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6827

The United States Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. It has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for almost two centuries. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored; today, it stands as a monument not only to its builders but also to the American people and their government. In addition to its active use by Congress, the Capitol is a museum of American art and history. Free admission. Hours and tour information.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Union Station or the Orange or Blue lines to Capitol South station. From Union Station, walk 1 block west on Massachusetts Avenue NE, turn left on North Capitol Street NW, walk 1 block south and turn right on Louisiana Avenue NW. Walk 2 blocks southwest on Louisiana Avenue NW, turn left on 1st Street NW and walk 1 block south. From Capitol South station, exit the station on C Street SE and walk 5 blocks north on 1st Street SE.

U.S. Department of State

2201 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20520
(202) 647-4000, 1-800-877-8339 (TTY)

The State Department's main building occupies two city blocks. The building is bounded by C and D Streets and 21st and 23rd Streets, with the main entrance located at C and 22nd Streets. Visitors can use the C Street entrance. The Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the Department of State, which are used for official functions hosted by the Secretary of State and other high level government officials, are open for pre-arranged tours at no charge. These rooms hold a premier collection of 18th Century American Furniture, paintings and decorative arts. Tour information.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to Foggy Bottom-GWU station. Walk five blocks south on 23rd Street to the State Department building.

U.S. Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20220
(202) 622-2000

The U.S. Treasury Building is the oldest departmental building in Washington, and the third oldest Federally occupied building in Washington, preceded only by the Capitol and the White House. The Main Treasury Building covers five stories and a raised basement and sits on 5 acres of ground. The building measures 466 feet north to south by 260 feet east to west.

A Statue of Alexander Hamilton, the 1st Secretary of the Treasury, is located on the south patio of the building, while a statue of Albert Gallatin, the 4th Secretary of the Treasury, is located on the north patio. Gallatin served the longest as Secretary, from 1801 until 1814. The grounds of the building -- rose gardens at the north and south ends and grass, magnolia trees and other plantings gracing the west side — add much to the beauty of the building.

Tours of the Treasury Building have been suspended until further notice. More information.

Take Metrorail's Red, Orange, or Blue lines to Metro Center station. Exit the station and walk 1 block south on 13th Street NW, turn right on F Street NW, and walk 2 blocks west and turn left on 15th Street NW. Or take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to the McPherson Square station. Exit the station and walk 1 block south on 14th Street NW, turn right on New York Avenue NW, walk 1 block west, turn left on 15th Street NW and walk south to the entrance between F & G Streets NW.

Washington National Cathedral

Massachusetts & Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington , DC 20016
(202) 537-6200 Recorded Information: (202) 364-6616

Built in the same manner as medieval churches, stone-on-stone with no structural steel, the Washington National Cathedral is the sixth largest in the world and the second largest in the United States. The Cathedral is 514 feet long (about one-tenth of a mile) and contains more than 200 stained glass windows. The Cathedral is designed in the style of fourteenth century English Gothic and is perhaps the world's last example of pure Gothic architecture. While the first design was by English architects George Bodley and Henry Vaughan, an American named Philip Hubert Frohman is considered to be the principal architect of Washington National Cathedral. Visiting information.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Tenleytown/AU station. Exit on the west side of Wisconsin Avenue. Take any "30" Metrobus (30, 32, 34 or 36) going south on Wisconsin Avenue to the Cathedral. Ride approximately one and a half miles south on Wisconsin Avenue to the Cathedral.

The Washington Post

1150 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20071
(202) 334-6000

When The Washington Post was first published in 1877, it contained four pages, cost three cents and had a circulation of 10,000. Reporters traveled about on foot and by hack, horsecar and highwheeled bicycle. The newspaper type was hand-set from the longhand copy of reporters and editors. Today, The Post is the product of a complex, technologically advanced process. In the Newsroom, the typewriter, long a newspaper fixture, has given way to a computer network that enables reporters and editors to electronically prepare stories for publication. Working around the clock seven days a week, nearly 1000 people in the Production department take these stories, along with classified and display advertising, and turn them into The Washington Post. The Post is produced at two state-of-the-art printing plants, one in Springfield, Virginia, and the other in College Park, Maryland. Tour information.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue Lines to McPherson Square station, exit the station and walk 1 block north on 14th Street NW. Turn left (west) on K Street NW, walk 1 block, turn right (north) on 15th Street NW, and walk 2 blocks.

White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington , DC 20500
202-456-1414

The White House, has been the home of every U.S. President except George Washington. The exterior of the main structure, despite some additions and minor changes, remains much as it was in 1800. The interior has been completely renovated using the historic floor plan. It is significant for its Federal architecture, as a symbol of the presidency, and for the important decisions made within its walls over the years.

Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more people. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. Tour information.

Take Metrorail's Blue or Orange lines to McPherson Square station, exit the station and walk south on 14th Street NW, turn right on New York Avenue NW, and walk 1 block west to Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Or take Metrorail's Red, Orange, or Blue lines to Metro Center station, exit the station on 12th & G Streets NW, walk 3 blocks west on G Street NW, turn right on 15th Street NW and walk a short distance to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and turn left.

White House Visitors Center

U.S. Dept. of Commerce Building, 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230
202-456-1414

The White House Visitors Center is located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets 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. More information/calendar of events.

Take Metrorail's Red, Orange, or Blue lines to Metro Center station, exit the station and walk 3 blocks south on 13th Street NW and turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Or take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to Federal Triangle station, exit the station and walk 2 blocks north on 12th Street NW, turn left on Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Woodrow Wilson House Museum

2340 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008
(202) 387-4062

In 1921, after leading the nation through the first World War, President Woodrow Wilson moved to this elegant Washington home. This dignified townhouse in the capital's Embassy Row neighborhood was a quiet haven for the Wilsons. The Woodrow Wilson House Museum, Washington's only presidential museum, presents a fascinating glimpse into the life of an educator, scholar and world statesman. Hours and fees.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Dupont Circle station, exit the station at Q Street NW, walk 2 blocks West on Q Street NW, turn right on Massachusetts Avenue NW and walk 5 blocks North, turn right onto 24th Street NW, walk 1 block and turn right onto S Street NW, proceed to 2340 S Street NW.