• View of the White House's north side from Layfatte Park

    President's Park (White House)

    District of Columbia

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • White House Tours canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013

    We regret to inform you that White House Tours are canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013, until further notice. For updates regarding this situation, please contact the White House Visitors Office 24 hour hotline at (202) 456-7041.

  • White House Visitor Center Rehabilitation and Closure Information

    The White House Visitor Center is closed for rehabilitation. A temporary visitor center is located near the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, just west of the intersection of 15th and E streets, NW.

Operating Hours & Seasons

Visitor Center

The grounds of President's Park are open year-round. At times, certain park areas may be closed on a temporary basis at the request of the US Secret Service to ensure necessary security and safety for the adjacent White House complex, its occupants, and the public. Operating hours and seasons for specific park buildings and events are listed below.

• White House Tours
• Temporary Visitor Center / Ellipse Visitor Pavilion Complex

 
 
White House
White House Tours
Tours of the White House take place during the following times:
  • Tuesdays to Thursdays, 7:30 am - 11 am
  • Fridays, 7:30 am - 12 noon
  • Saturdays, 7:30 am - 1 pm
Advanced registration is required. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress or embassy and are accepted up to six months in advance. For more information, visit the White House Tours page.
 
 
Ellipse Visitor Pavilion
Temporary Visitor Center / Ellipse Visitor Pavilion Complex
  • Located just west of the corner of 15th and E Streets, NW
  • Open daily from 7:30 am to 4 pm
  • Closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1

Inside the temporary visitor center there is an information desk, a 30-minute movie on the White House, Where History Lives, and a White House Historical Association gift shop.

Located nearby in the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion is a concession stand, restrooms, water fountains, and an information desk.

 
 

Did You Know?

James Monroe, 5th President: 1817-1825

On May 11, 1819, President James Monroe traveled from Savannah to Tybee on the steamboat, Savannah, which later became the first steamship to cross the Atlantic.