Nutty, generalized question which is honestly perplexing me:
I am visiting DC soon. My congressional representative and senator offered me tours of the capitol building. How do I decide which tour to take?
They are almost certainly the same. Offices used to get interns to do it, but now I think that’s not allowed anymore, or at least it has been cut way back. The Capitol Visitors Center has professional guides who actually know the history of the building, as opposed to the embellishments you used to get from 20 year old college juniors.
You could ask each of the offices whether they do their own tours or if they get the Capitol guides to do them. If they do their own tours, you might consider booking one with a free tourguide from here:
https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit/book-tour-capitol
Yes, I booked a tour on the Capitol website for myself and my wife last year. We’re from Canada, so “contact your representative” didn’t work well; didn’t feel like going through the embassy, the web was easier. I would hazard a guess that unless you’re the guy who financed his campaign or his immediate family, that he will simply book you tickets on the official tour.
I was actually just poking around the Capitol yesterday.
There are short public tours of the public areas (the rotunda, etc.) which anyone can join. You can just walk in and join one of these, though it’s possible to make advanced reservations.
What you need a congressperson for is to get a “gallery pass” to see the house or senate floor. I just walked in to my Representative’s office (which is kind of fun) and they gave me a pass to both. I think these is a special office that gives them to international visitors. To visit the gallery you just follow the sign, go through different rounds of security and get in.
While I was watching the floor, I saw some other people on tours with interns. I’d guess this is what you were offered. They interns seemed informative and enthusiastic.
I also learned that hearings are public, and I watched a Foreign Affairs committee hearing on Syria. Hearing times are posted online and you just find the right building, go through building security and walk in. It was very, very cool.
When you do go, pack light. No food is allowed in the capitol, and there are multiple rounds of security and places where you’ll need to check electronics and any large items (I had to check an umbrella and pair of sandals I had in my bag).
Have fun!
Get the congresscritter who’s got the most clout - I went when Clyburn was the majority whip, and we got to see that Capitol office as well as the regular tour stuff. Has a very nice view. (This was an intern tour - such a nice young lady, very earnest and informed. We had it all to ourselves, too.)
It’s also interesting to see a bit of the machinery - if you go on the tour with your happy little intern you get to go through the tunnels, we rode the little subway train thing, etc. We had breakfast at the House office building and it was cheaper than just about anything else nearby, plus interesting to listen in on all the other tables. I’d highly recommend it.
I applaud the eagerness of the many interns who work on Capitol Hill, but let’s not kid ourselves that they have a very good grasp of the history of the Capitol.
That’s correct. I did the walk-in tour, then asked how to go watch debates.
The nice tour lady said I should go to the office of my representative or senators to get the pass.
I replied, “What about those of us who don’t have representatives or senators?”
She said, in the tone of voice used for somewhat dim small children, “Oh, sir, everyone has a representative and senators!”
“Even those of us from Canada?”
That flummoxed her. I guess I have a traditional Canadian-blend-into-North-America accent and she’d assumed I was from Michigan or something.
She had to ask a couple of other tour guides, and then they sent me off to the Speaker’s office. I got a pass to the Foreign Visitors’ Gallery. I ended up sitting next to some some German and Japanese tourists.