The school my daughter attends has a trip to Washington DC scheduled for the week of April 21, 2003.

The trip is sponsered by World Strides. We are having a tough time finding out what is open or closed in DC from World Strides.

We do not object to her traveling, but we want her to be able to see the sites that were promised...namely the White House and a few other government sites.

Any definite closures that you know of would be helpful.

I don't think the White House is allowing tours... but everything else seems to be open.

The reason the tour company is having trouble is that the situation is fluid, what is closed today could be open tomorrow and visa versa.

As of today, White House tours and tours of the US Capital are suspended. Here are some websites that you should look at to get the latest information:

www.whitehouse.gov - click on History and Tours

www.si.edu – main website for the Smithsonian Museums

www.supremecourtus.gov

www.nps.gov – National |Park Service, they operate the Washington Monument and most other monuments in DC.

www.senate.gov – Click on Visitor's Centre

www.aoc.gov- website for the Architect of the Capital

You may still get inside the white house for a white house tour if you get a white house pass from your congressperson or senators go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov to get their direct phone line and their receptionist will help you - CALL NOW!!. The only things actually closed are the American Portrait Gallery and the American Museum of art, both located at gallery place metro (all of the art - and other - museums on the mall are open). Of course, the area just outside the white house fence (about 30ft from the doors)is always open.

Before we went to war, the White House was open to school and similar groups only. Don't know if that has changed in the last week. This summer you could not even get a glimpse of the White House by driving by - had to park and walk even to get to gates.

Even if some things are closed, the trip will still be great - if you really want info on what is open, I would contact your local US Rep's office - they usually are very nice and equally informed. (We have had better luck with local office, but you can also call DC office - they like to answer questions since then they think you will vote for them again)

the White House has completely suspended all tours and Penn Ave between Treasury and the Old Executive Bldg is closed too.

and the cherry blossoms will be gone by then too

Thanks for the info.

About Penn Avenue being closed...is it closed to vehicles only?...or pedestrians, too.

I was in Washington DC last week and Penn Ave was closed to vehicles only.
You could still walk in front of the White House for picture taking, but you had to stay on the sidewalk across the street on the Lafayette Square side. Plenty close for me. We had a great visit.

Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House was pedestrianized several years ago.

Pedestrians were prohibited in front of the White House two days ago. Maybe it's a day-to-day thing

Must be a day to day thing as we got in front of the White House on 31 March, but couldn't get to the Ronald Reagan Bldg food court as no ID!