Obama gets White House tour; what about you? How to book free tour + online White House floor plan

Sure, President-Elect Barack Obama got a tour of the White House today.  He and his wife, Michelle Obama, were greeted by President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. It was Obama’s first-ever visit to the Oval Office. But what about you? When can you get your tour of the White House and what will you be able to see once you’re inside? Read on for the White House floor plan and how to organize a free tour for your family and friends.

White House: Did you know that the White House has its own website?

White House tour: In-person White House tours can be booked by through your member of Congress. Rooms that you will see on the tour include: Blue Room, Entrance and Cross Halls, East Room, Green Room, Library, Red Room, State Dining Room, and the Vermeil Room. There is no cost for the tours. To arrange one:

1. Figure out who your representative is

2. Go to their Web page

3. Click the “Services” link on the left nav bar.

4. Click on “Tour requests” from the drop-down menu.

5. Info about the White House Tours from my congressman:

“Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more people. Requests must be submitted through one’s member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis approximately one month in advance of the requested date. We encourage you to submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge.

Note: Tours are subject to cancellations or time changes. For the most up-to-date information about touring and visiting the White House, call the 24-hour Visitors Office Info Line at (202) 456-7041.”

White House Floor Plan: You don’t have to go to Washington, D.C., to get a tour, here’s the online version.

— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger

[Photo: President Bush confers with President-elect Obama in the Oval Office. Credit: / Associated Press]

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 6:20 pm by Jen Leo and is filed under East Coast, News, Tips & Advice, Tours & Cruises, Washington D.C.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.