Public tours of the White House are returning after a long hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can't just show up and ask for tickets, however. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is a little more complicated than putting your name on a guestlist, and takes some planning in advance.
Public tours will initially be available from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, excluding Federal holidays.
Requests for a White House tour must be submitted through a Member of Congress in either the House or Senate. You can also call the House switchboard at 202-225-3121 or the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121 to reach your Member of Congress.
If you're hoping to schedule a tour, timing is key. Requests must be submitted at least 21 days, and no more than 90 days, in advance of the requested tour date. Reservations outside the 21– to 90-day window will not be considered.
Those who are able to book a spot on a tour will get a close-up look at several famous rooms, including the Blue Room, Red Room, State Dining Room, and the White House Rose Garden, NPR reported.
The White House paused tours of its interior for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 15, the Biden administration announced that the public, self-guided tours would resume on April 15.
"The White House will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation with guidance based on recommendations from the CDC, and other public health officials and medical experts, and reserves the right to adjust availability of the public tours as necessary to adhere to the latest health guidance," the White House said in a statement.
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