Back when I was a kid, taking a tour of the White House was no more complicated than taking a tour of any other historic site. These days, planning ahead and being flexible are a must for a tour.
Six months to 21-days before your trip (earlier is always better as tours fill up) you must submit a request to your member of Congress. I had to give a range of possible dates at that point. Once I heard back from the aide, I had to provide a long list of personal information about everyone in our party – birthdates and places, social security numbers, etc.
Two weeks before our trip, we heard back that our tour was approved and given the time and date for the tour. The rules are very strict about what can and cannot be brought. No bags at all. No cameras. You can bring a phone with a camera, but it must be off and put away for the duration of the tour. Once you step outside the White House, there is an area where you can turn on the phone and take photos on the grounds, outside.
Was going on a tour of the White House worth all the complications of getting the tickets, having to keep our valuables (my camera, etc.) locked in the car in DC (yikes), and arriving so early in the morning? For me, yes it was. Though we had been to the White House grounds before for the Easter Egg Roll, the girls hadn’t had the chance to go inside. And now they have. As security gets tighter and tighter, they may never have the chance to visit again. Carpe diem!
