Don’t Skip the Impressive White House Visitor Center!

One of the biggest surprises we encountered in DC was the White House Visitor Center. This must-see attraction is often overlooked- in fact, I missed it on my first 4 trips to the capital city! The White House Visitor exhibit area features nearly 100 historical artifacts, archival footage, interactive displays, informational panels, videos, and photos from the most famous house in the United States of America. There is even a large-scale model of the White House and tactile exhibits that kids will love!

Unlike the White House which requires that you book a tour in advance, the White House Visitor Center is open to anyone. The White House Visitor Center is operated by the National Park Service and is free and open to the public. It provides an insight into what life in the White House is like for the First Families through artifacts. These relics include Franklin D. Roosevelt’s desk, Abraham Lincoln’s china, copies of the First Lady’s date books, and photos of visits from royal families around the globe.

The theater space features a film called “The White House: Reflections from Within” which recounts personal stories from Presidents, First Ladies, and First Families. We suggest watching this 14-minute video first, even though the theater is located at the back of the center.

Even if you aren’t able to get a tour of the inside of the White House, we suggest checking out the Visitor Center. If you are lucky enough to snag a White House Tour, be sure to stop by the Visitor Center first to use their facilities as there are no restrooms available for public use at the White House.

Table of Contents

Visiting to the White House Visitor Center

The White House Visitor Center is located at:
1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Admission to the White House Visitor Center is free.

The center is open Tuesday- Saturday from 7:30 am until 4 pm except for Federal Holidays.

Visitors are required to pass through TSA-style airport security to enter the exhibit space.

Parking near the White House Visitor Center is limited as many of the street parking is limited to federal employees and bus parking. We suggest taking the Metro to access the Visitor Center. The nearest metro stations are Metro Center (Blue/Orange/Silver/Red lines) and Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver lines). Both are about a 7-minute walk from the station to the White House Visitor Center.