Visiting the White House

[Bill the Cat]

If you ever want to have a self-guided tour of the White House, you have to get approval from your Congressman. I just sent a request form into mine, and a good friend of mine knows the Congressman personally, so he is making a few calls to get the request expedited. I had no idea it was so difficult to visit a building that we taxpayers paid for...

Anyway, I will let you all know how the process goes just in case you have an inkling to visit.

Source: http://www.nps.gov/whho/planyourvisit/white-house-tours.htm

1. When are the White House Tours?

Public tours of the White House are available. These self-guided tours are generally available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fridays, and 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays (excluding federal holidays). Hours and availability are always subject to change.

2. How can I arrange a White House tour?

Tours of the White House are only available by advance registration.

Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress or embassy three weeks to six months in advance of the desired tour date. Each Member of Congress has established his or her own procedures by which to accept tour reservation requests. Please contact the member or members through whom you wish to place the reservation request to learn more about their requirements. The switchboard at the US Capitol and each member's web page will be able to assist you in reaching your senators and representatives. To reach members of the United States House of Representatives or Senate, please call 202-224-3121 or visit house.gov or senate.gov to find your members' webpages.

You are encouraged to submit your request as early as possible as a limited number of spaces are available. All White House tours are free of charge.

© Copyright Original Source

[Cow Poke]

Well, it's extremely difficult to get in, but it's FREE!

[mossrose]

But maybe they charge you to get out?

We have an island province that is free to get onto, but you have to pay to get off.

You can arrive by either ferry or VERY, VERY, VERY long bridge () and it costs nothing for either.

You have to leave by either of those methods (or I suppose you could fly there and fly off...........) but you have to pay to leave.

Good thing we knew about it before hand and had enough money to get off!

[Bill the Cat]

Well that was fast. They got back with me requesting "security information" on everyone attending

[Cow Poke]

But maybe they charge you to get out?

We have an island province that is free to get onto, but you have to pay to get off.

You can arrive by either ferry or VERY, VERY, VERY long bridge () and it costs nothing for either.

You have to leave by either of those methods (or I suppose you could fly there and fly off...........) but you have to pay to leave.

Good thing we knew about it before hand and had enough money to get off!

So, if you lose your wallet while you're there, you have to STAY?

Reminds me of the Kingston Trio's MTA Song --- they raised the price, and a guy didn't have enough money, so he had to ride the subway forever!

[Cow Poke]

Well that was fast. They got back with me requesting "security information" on everyone attending

Maybe you can get an endorsement from Sean!

[mossrose]

So, if you lose your wallet while you're there, you have to STAY?

Reminds me of the Kingston Trio's MTA Song --- they raised the price, and a guy didn't have enough money, so he had to ride the subway forever!

Charlie and the subway! I remember that song!

[mikewhitney]

Well that was fast. They got back with me requesting "security information" on everyone attending

So you simply respond
I vouch for Mrs Bill the Cat.
Mrs Bill the Cat vouches for me and for our buddy Sam.
We swear we are good people.
No, we never visit TWEB.

[Bill the Cat]

Here was the response:

I just received your request to tour the White House. I am happy to assist you with that request, but I will need some additional information from you in order to do so. The White House now requires security information for everyone that plans to tour in order for me to submit a request. As such, I have attached an excel spreadsheet that outlines all of the required information, and once I receive a completed form back from you, I will be happy to submit your request to tour.



Please note that once we submit your request to the White House, the process is then in their hands. This means that a tour can be assigned as early as 7:30 AM, and unfortunately we are unable to make any changes to the date and time if they are able to accommodate your tour. The White House will let us know about two weeks prior to the dates requested as to whether or not they are able to accommodate your request, at which point we be back in contact with you.



If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email our office and we’ll be happy to help in any way that we can.

[Cow Poke]

Here was the response:

I just received your request to tour the White House. I am happy to assist you with that request, but I will need some additional information from you in order to do so. The White House now requires security information for everyone that plans to tour in order for me to submit a request. As such, I have attached an excel spreadsheet that outlines all of the required information, and once I receive a completed form back from you, I will be happy to submit your request to tour.



Please note that once we submit your request to the White House, the process is then in their hands. This means that a tour can be assigned as early as 7:30 AM, and unfortunately we are unable to make any changes to the date and time if they are able to accommodate your tour. The White House will let us know about two weeks prior to the dates requested as to whether or not they are able to accommodate your request, at which point we be back in contact with you.



If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email our office and we’ll be happy to help in any way that we can.

If, however, you're visiting from a non-contiguous foreign country, just stop on by -- we'll leave the light on for ya!

[KingsGambit]

I went as a kid, before 9/11 when it wasn't as difficult to get in. I don't remember the tour being all that exciting TBH. You just see a few rooms where there isn't all that much to see. The US Capitol is a much more interesting tour.

[Cow Poke]

I went as a kid, before 9/11 when it wasn't as difficult to get in. I don't remember the tour being all that exciting TBH. You just see a few rooms where there isn't all that much to see. The US Capitol is a much more interesting tour.

I got to sit in the galley and stare down at Pelosi. I sure wish I had been there recently when she chased a republican across the isle, wagging her finger at him!

[KingsGambit]

I got to sit in the galley and stare down at Pelosi. I sure wish I had been there recently when she chased a republican across the isle, wagging her finger at him!

They seem to have toned it down over the years if that's all she did:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...charles-sumner

[lilpixieofterror]

I got to do that tour awhile ago back when George W was still in office. As KG said, you get to go though a few of the rooms, but I still enjoyed the tour. The Capital tour is a pretty good one too and I think it is arranged the same way though your congressman too. Try to do both, while you're there.

[Cow Poke]

I got to do that tour awhile ago back when George W was still in office. As KG said, you get to go though a few of the rooms, but I still enjoyed the tour. The Capital tour is a pretty good one too and I think it is arranged the same way though your congressman too. Try to do both, while you're there.

When we were there a couple years ago, we just walked right up to a couple of Capital Police Officers, and asked them if the Capital was open. They pointed to the flag pole, and said, "if the flag's flying, they're in session". Then they escorted us right up the security line, got us inside, and we watched the proceedings!