Getting inside the White House can be difficult, so here is your back-up plan. Housed in the splendiferous 1932 Patent Search Room of the Department of Commerce building, this center has plenty of artifacts, anecdote-packed information panels and informative multimedia exhibits, including a presentation on the history and lives of the presidential families and an interactive touchscreen tour of the White House. It’s obviously not the same as seeing the real deal firsthand, but is well worth visiting regardless.
White House Visitor Center
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
13.23 MILES
One of America's most visited historic sites, Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George and Martha Washington.
0.86 MILES
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0.75 MILES
Two buildings. Hundreds of masterpieces. Infinite enjoyment. It's easy to spend a full day at the National Gallery of Art, which showcases a whole range…
1.02 MILES
Anchoring the National Mall's west end is the hallowed shrine to Abraham Lincoln, who gazes across the Reflecting Pool beneath his neoclassical, Doric…
National Museum of African American History & Culture
0.28 MILES
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1.34 MILES
Since 1800, this is where the legislative branch of American government (ie Congress) has met to write the country's laws.
0.26 MILES
Play image association with the words “Washington, DC,” and chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the White House. The president’s pad is…
1.87 MILES
Sprawling across hills above the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for America’s most revered…
Nearby attractions
0.16 MILES
The National Children's Museum has been homeless since 2015, but plans are in the works to open in the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center…
0.2 MILES
Located in the Ellipse, the Zero Milestone is the marker for highway distances all across the country.
0.22 MILES
The expansive, oval-shaped park on the White House's south side is known as the Ellipse. It's studded with a random collection of monuments, such as the…
0.26 MILES
Play image association with the words “Washington, DC,” and chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the White House. The president’s pad is…
6. National Museum of African American History & Culture
0.28 MILES
Located in Washington, DC, the sensational National Museum of African American History & Culture is devoted exclusively to the documentation of African…
7. National Museum of American History
0.31 MILES
Containing all kinds of artifacts of the American experience, this museum has as its centerpiece the flag that flew over Baltimore's Fort McHenry during…
0.36 MILES
The land north of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave was originally deeded as part of the White House grounds. However, in 1804 President Thomas Jefferson decided to…