I need some help from Fodorites that have had tours set up by your Congressman. I have received confirmation on a couple of tours my Congressman has set for our family but has not returned an e-mail with instructions on what to do. These tours include the Capitol, Mint and Library of Congress. Did you just show up at these venues and give them your name or was there a formal procedure whereby an aide or representative met you and took you in? I have all the times and schedule but am just missing the final details of attending. Thanks all for your help.

You need to call his office in DC and arrange a time and place to meet. We met at his office for our tour of the Capital. Our congressman walked over to the Capital with us and had our picture taken with him while his lunch sat uneaten on his desk. (He'll always have my vote!) One his aides then gave us the tour.

It's always worth touching base w/your Congresswoman/Congressman (=Representative; Senators insist on being called Senator) while in DC because they are usually ridiculously happy to see you and amazingly cordial to constituents. The office will usually be eager to help you with whatever you need to know about tours, and as noted, sometimes you get a meet-and-greet and handshake. If you want them to move the highway, airport, landfill, chemical plant away from your house, it's a good time to drop a hint, too!!! ;-)

Keep in mind though, White House Tours set up by Hill offices are a no go after 9/11. Go to the Rep's office and they will give you everything you need. Usually, an office intern can give you a nice tour of the Capitol and Library of Congress and you can bypass some of the lines.

Actually White House tours are available. My congressman's office is working on one for us for July. But the tours are only available through Congress.

I received a confirmation letter w/meeting time for the Capitol Tour. I went to the Senator's office first for breakfast (coffee, juice and pastry) then one of his aides walked us over from his office and gave us a tour of the Capitol. The Senator was in Normady for the WWII comemoration, but I did get to take a picture sitting behind his desk.

In my packet where tickets for the other venues, where you just show up at the appointed time and check in.

Thanks to everyone for their quick replies. Looks like I need to call my Congressman's office to get further information. I still have a couple of weeks, but had not received a reply to my questions. They are also trying to set up a White House tour and I had to fill out security forms for the whole family. They told me a tour can only be set up within two weeks of a visit and it was no guarantee.

Just returned from DC. Our congressman's office sent an itinerary of all our reserved tours with times, dates, meeting places, and security issues. The aide who set up all the tours sent her business card, so I emailed her a few times with some clarification questions. She was super helpful. Most were arrive at the appointed meeting spot and check in. The tighest security was at the State Dept. We all needed a picture ID in addition to the regular airport type security screening. The Capitol (If I remember correctly) did not allow any liquid (water, lip gloss, etc.)

Just keep working with your Senator's office. I have been working with mine since January for a late July trip similar to yours. (You might see I have posted several times on this forum.)I finally got a call last week from his staff telling me I FINALLY have a confirmation for a White House tour. Our security info was not requested til a couple of weeks ago. But we are now set for a July 24th trip. So just keep talking and hopefully they will come up with all you need.

thanks to all that replied. i called my congressman's office and found that the aides and other personnel i had been working with no longer worked there. their e-mails were also not forwarded. i received great help from an aide that set up all of our tours,sent me an e-mail with all directions, and followed up several times with questions i had. since we had not been able to get our white house trip confirmed, our congressman is going to take us on a tour of the white house. (don't know how in-depth)
we leave tomorrow and will post our details when we get back.