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Going To The White House !

Beaglemom3

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YAY ! Been approved for a self-guided tour of the White House !

Would appreciate hearing from any Tuggers who have taken the tour.


Thanking you in advance.


-
 
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Beaglemom3

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Staying at the Mayflower Marriott, the hotel "part", I think.

Will try to snoop around enough in order to write a review for TUG.


-
 
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x3 skier

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We did a private tour back in the day when I was in Grad school. All I can remember is a buddy and I got a picture in the same chairs in front of the fireplace where the President and visiting Heads of State sit for photo ops. :D

If you get a similar chance do it!

Cheers
 

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We did a private tour back in the day when I was in Grad school. All I can remember is a buddy and I got a picture in the same chairs in front of the fireplace where the President and visiting Heads of State sit for photo ops. :D

If you get a similar chance do it!

Cheers

I'd bet that you were told not to touch anything…. ;)
 

x3 skier

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I'd bet that you were told not to touch anything…. ;)

Actually we sat in the same (I assume) chairs the Big Wheels use. ;)

Cheers
 

DeniseM

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Actually we sat in the same (I assume) chairs the Big Wheels use. ;)

Cheers

With permission? On our White House tour we were explicitly told not to touch anything.
 

Luanne

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I've never been. How exciting!
 

DaveNV

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I did this tour in June of 2014. It's very easy.

You line up on the street at a holding area, and your group is ushered up at the approved tour time. Security is tight - bring nothing - no backpacks, no purses, nothing. After screening, you're shown through another crowd control door or two, until you finally end up in a room at a corner of the building. You walk along the route, where docents explain the purpose of various rooms, until you end up heading out the front door. You never get off the floor you enter on, and there are maybe a dozen rooms and hall areas you walk through. The tour took maybe 30 minutes.

It was actually quite interesting, to know you're standing in the East Room, or whatever, where this or that historical event took place. I found the artwork most interesting. Portraits and such I've seen only in books are right there on the walls. Kind of cool. :)

Dave
 

Beaglemom3

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On the invitation it said that it take about 45 minutes. Not sure what rooms we'll be able to see.

-
 

DeniseM

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Dave's description was what we experienced, as well. I think a docent will be with you at all times, so I'm not sure what they mean by "self-guided."
 

silentg

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We took a tour of the White House during the Carter Administration then again during Clinton Administration. Both were group tours. We had a White House Guide take us thru. Only saw a few rooms, still something to see. Both times the President was out of town.
Silentg
 

MULTIZ321

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I did this tour in June of 2014. It's very easy.

You line up on the street at a holding area, and your group is ushered up at the approved tour time. Security is tight - bring nothing - no backpacks, no purses, nothing. After screening, you're shown through another crowd control door or two, until you finally end up in a room at a corner of the building. You walk along the route, where docents explain the purpose of various rooms, until you end up heading out the front door. You never get off the floor you enter on, and there are maybe a dozen rooms and hall areas you walk through. The tour took maybe 30 minutes.

It was actually quite interesting, to know you're standing in the East Room, or whatever, where this or that historical event took place. I found the artwork most interesting. Portraits and such I've seen only in books are right there on the walls. Kind of cool. :)

Dave

Dave,

Did you get to see the Oval Office as part of the Tour?


Richard
 

jackio

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We did the tour 2 years ago. We were self guided, but we had to follow the route through the rooms. The rooms and furniture were roped off, definitely no sitting on it. At the entrance to each room was a guide who gave some info and asked questions. I was very happy we did it.
 

jackio

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Beags, call your congressman and ask if his/her aide can give you a guided tour of the Capitol. Ours set us up with a personal tour that took us from his office through the tunnels leading to the Capitol and on to the floor of both houses. There we did get to sit in the chairs. She was very interesting.
His office also set us up with tickets to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving which was really interesting also.
 

Beaglemom3

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Beags, call your congressman and ask if his/her aide can give you a guided tour of the Capitol. Ours set us up with a personal tour that took us from his office through the tunnels leading to the Capitol and on to the floor of both houses. There we did get to sit in the chairs. She was very interesting.
His office also set us up with tickets to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving which was really interesting also.

Hi,
Yes, we have that, too ! Thanks ! It's for the holiday, Monday. They're open, but I doubt that Congress will be in session on Columbus Day. I'll check the docket, though. Thanks for the suggestions in touring.

It's just that the confirmation of the White House came this morning and that's what I really want to see.

Love my Congresswoman, Katherine Clark (D. Mass) !
 

sun&fun

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I did this tour in June of 2014. It's very easy.

You line up on the street at a holding area, and your group is ushered up at the approved tour time. Security is tight - bring nothing - no backpacks, no purses, nothing. After screening, you're shown through another crowd control door or two, until you finally end up in a room at a corner of the building. You walk along the route, where docents explain the purpose of various rooms, until you end up heading out the front door. You never get off the floor you enter on, and there are maybe a dozen rooms and hall areas you walk through. The tour took maybe 30 minutes.

It was actually quite interesting, to know you're standing in the East Room, or whatever, where this or that historical event took place. I found the artwork most interesting. Portraits and such I've seen only in books are right there on the walls. Kind of cool. :)

Dave

cameras are now allowed
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-pres...house-lifts-camera-and-photo-ban-public-tours
 

Beaglemom3

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I did this tour in June of 2014. It's very easy.

You line up on the street at a holding area, and your group is ushered up at the approved tour time. Security is tight - bring nothing - no backpacks, no purses, nothing. After screening, you're shown through another crowd control door or two, until you finally end up in a room at a corner of the building. You walk along the route, where docents explain the purpose of various rooms, until you end up heading out the front door. You never get off the floor you enter on, and there are maybe a dozen rooms and hall areas you walk through. The tour took maybe 30 minutes.

It was actually quite interesting, to know you're standing in the East Room, or whatever, where this or that historical event took place. I found the artwork most interesting. Portraits and such I've seen only in books are right there on the walls. Kind of cool. :)

Dave

We did the tour 2 years ago. We were self guided, but we had to follow the route through the rooms. The rooms and furniture were roped off, definitely no sitting on it. At the entrance to each room was a guide who gave some info and asked questions. I was very happy we did it.

Sounds like a great trip. There is so much to see and do in DC, but if you have time while you are on Capitol Hill, I highly recommend a tour of the Library of Congress' Jefferson Building. Quite beautifully restored some 20 years ago and just across from the Capitol Visitors' Center.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/albums/72157630557681056

Thanks to all for the info.
Sorry if I left anyone out.
 

vacationhopeful

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When I used to host a French HS student in the summer for several weeks ... back at least 25+ years ago ... I always would that the girl to DC. We stayed at my sister's and husband's home nearby but do the White House and a walk down Washington Monument tour. We would see and do some other stuff ... but those were my #1 and #2 goals.

They NEVER could believe we actually were inside the REAL HOME of the US President ... one girl told the French TV reporter she did not understand her French (shy?). And everyone of my exchange students asked how they could take the elevator DOWN after doing about 25 steps inside the Washington monument. As my summer guests, they got to see DC in either July or August. Whether French or American ... teenagers now and then most likely prefer "the beach vacation" or the roller coast parks.

So back in France, there are about 12 French adults who every time they see the Washington Monument on TV, get that "I walk down inside that thing" sinking gut feeling OR "proclaim "that House of the American President" is very small. Or both.
 

x3 skier

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With permission? On our White House tour we were explicitly told not to touch anything.

Absolutely allowed! It was a specially arranged tour just for our class of some 40 people. We had a member of the White House Staff as a tour leader who was a graduate of the school. Don't recall his name.

On the trip we also met with Supreme Court Justice, "Whizzer" White, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Attorney General along with a number of others in the private sector in charge of Washington Offices of a few Fortune 100 Companies. Even got a tour of the Russian Embassy which was a bit spooky.

Cheers
 
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DaveNV

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Dave,

Did you get to see the Oval Office as part of the Tour?


Richard


No, Richard. Just the public rooms on the ground floor.

Dave
 

DaveNV

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silentg

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Go to the Smithsonian, could spend the whole day in there!
 

DaveNV

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Which one? :D

Indeed! We spent the whole of several days in the various Smithsonians, and didn't scratch the surface. Thats why we're going back - to see more of what's there!

Dave
 
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