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.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

2. National Children’s Museum

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…

3. Zero Milestone

0.2 MILES

Located in the Ellipse, the Zero Milestone is the marker for highway distances all across the country.

4. Ellipse

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…

5. White House

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…

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…

8. Lafayette Square

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…