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The White House

Photo: Cezary Piwowarczyk / CC BY-SA 4.0

🎡 Attractions

The White House

Washington, DC · Downtown

About

The most famous address in America has sat at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since John Adams moved in back in 1800, and the columned North Portico with its fountain and seasonal flower beds is the view everyone knows. Self-guided tours of the State Floor are free, though they run on the government's schedule and have to be requested months ahead through your member of Congress. If a tour ticket doesn't come together, the White House Visitor Center a few blocks south fills the gap with artifacts, films, and a close look at the rooms you would otherwise only glimpse from the fence line.

Highlights

Iconic North Portico, columns, and fountainFree self-guided State Floor tours (request via your member of Congress, 7 to 90 days ahead)White House Visitor Center nearby with exhibits and filmsSpring and fall garden tours open the grounds to the public

Getting there

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Washington D.C. Attractions23 places

Washington D.C. Attractions

No city packs more world-class attractions into a walk than Washington, and most of it is free. The Smithsonians line the National Mall like a museum mile, from the moon lander hanging in Air and Space to the Hope Diamond and the Wright Flyer. Between them stand the monuments and memorials: Lincoln gazing down the reflecting pool, the Washington Monument over the Tidal Basin cherry trees, the marble halls of the Capitol and the Library of Congress. Bring good shoes and a full day, and you still will not see it all.