Touring the capital building

Hi,

My family and I will be in DC in early October. We have scheduled a tour of the capital through one of our senators. However, I%26#39;m not clear what this tour will include. The contact person said it takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Would folks recommend that we stand in line in the AM to do the official tour that is discussed in books like Frommer%26#39;s or is the tour provided by the senator%26#39;s staff sufficient?

Thanks!

Kristin

Touring the capital building

You will probably see more of the Capitol on the tour with your Senator%26#39;s office. Don%26#39;t bother standing in the long line if you already have one scheduled. The official tour is conducted in large groups of 20 or so and focuses on the rotunda and crypt mainly. On the tour you arranged with your Senator%26#39;s office, you%26#39;ll get to travel through the undergoround tunnels to get from his/her office building to the Capitol and you%26#39;ll be in a much smaller group. The tour guides for the Senators and Representatives are usually interns, but they are very enthusiastic.

Touring the capital building

Stick with the Senator%26#39;s tour. It%26#39;s likely the same as the public tour, if not even more personal. Enjoy.

Kristen,

We just got back from DC last week and we took a capital tour through our Congressman%26#39;s office. We reported there early for our 2:30 tour and the young summer intern, took just us on the tour. It lasted at least an hour and was very informative. I was amazed at all the facts they had to learn. We were often in the same area as several other tours like in the rotunda and in the House chambers. He did a good job and gave us all the info we wanted.

He was much better than the guide we had for the Library of Congress tour who talked too long about too few things instead of coverning more areas.

Request all the tours you can from your representatives in order to avoid having to go down early in morning and wait in line and then come back later for a tour. You can get Library of Congress, National Archives, Bureau of Engraving and Printing. I think Kennedy Ctr also, but we didn%26#39;t get that one.The White House tour requires at least 10 in a group. I heard this is only 15 min long now. We did the White House visitor center and walked around whole outside.