Back in the day you could visit the white house freely, but with times changing and safety being a rising issue, you know have to take certain steps to even enter the White House doors. In this article we will discuss the different things you need to do to ensure that you will be able to have the experience, and to do it safely. It is worth the hassle to be able to stand where many legendary presidents have stood, and changed the world as we know it. Take the time to read through the article and prepare to take the steps that you will need to take, but keep in mind this can be a lengthy process, so be sure to start planning this a few months in advance to your visit to Washington, DC.
Steps to Take to tour the white house
How to Request a White House Tour
You read that right, you now have to make a request to go to the White House. Touring the White House requires some advance planning. Public tour requests must be made through your member of Congress. There is a site available for you to find who you need to contact in your congress, you will need to submit this application 3/4 months in advance to when you are planning on taking your trip. If you’re an international visitor and wish to schedule a tour, you will need to contact your home country’s embassy in Washington, DC. The tours fill up rather quickly so be sure to submit those forms as soon as you can. The best part is that all tours of the White House are FREE. Downside is, if something comes up within the White House your tour may get canceled and rescheduled to a later date.
What to Expect
You will be given a certain date to come to the White House as well as time to make your arrival. If you are under 18 or have someone in your group who is, you will have to show identification upon your check-in. If you are a Foreign National you will need to provide a legal passport. Remember tp pack light for your tour, no backpacks, food, large handbags, bottled water. You can however bring your phone or a camera that has a lens that is no longer than 3 inches, no recording devices or flash photography is allowed inside the White House. You will obviously have to go through security, and no restrooms are available for your use while on your tour inside the White House. The tour will include the public rooms in the East Wing, which includes the Blue Room, Red Room and Green Room; the State Dining Room; the China Room; and a view of the White House Rose Garden. Secret Service members are stationed in each room and are available to answer questions about the history and architecture of each room.
You can see the White House from the outside, but cannot enter without taking the steps I have provided for you in the above segments of the article. If you do not wish to go through the ordeal it requires you can say you stood in front of the White House which is also really neat to be able to tell your friends. You can also view the White House garden in the fall or spring garden tour. Check whitehouse.gov in early October and April. The announcement of the garden tours is usually made within a week or two of when they take place. You will need a ticket to join this event. However you get to see this historical site, you will not be sorry you took the time to do so.