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White House – The White House, home-office for
presidents, and residence for first ladies and presidential families, has tours for the public (groups of 10 or more people). You request a tour from your member of Congress, at least a month, and to up to six months in advance. Click here for all the information. Of course, the White House
is visible from outside, and just walking by, kids can imagine all the exciting things going on
inside, every day, in this historic complex. |
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For an introduction to the White House, drop into the White
House Visitor Center (on Pennsylvania Ave. South in the Commerce Building).
The 30 min. video is a "virtual tour" of the White House, plus
kids will enjoy the exhibits of first families and a history of horses over
the years at the White House. (The exhibits in the Visitor Center are primarily
wall displays, nothing hands-on for kids, but it's a great place to escape
the heat, and there are restrooms.) |
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Old Post Office Tower – Ride to the top of the
Old Post Office Tower for great views of The Mall, and Washington, DC overall.
If you go at night, you can see the buildings lit up. The Tower isn't as
high as the Washington Monument, but it's a great alternative – you
don't need reservations, and the Old Post Office Tower isn't crowded. |
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The inside of the Old Post Office is impressive too –
a 12 story open interior, covered with two huge glass ceilings. On the ground
floor, there's a food court for quick bites to eat. At noon, listen to live
music on the small stage. |
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FBI Building – Tours of the FBI, Federal Bureau
of Investigation, have been suspended indefinitely. |
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Ford's Theatre – On April 14, 1865,
John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln as he watched a
play in Ford's Theatre. The theatre is as it was in 1865,
and kids will be impressed by the flag-draped presidential box where it
all happened. The theatre is open all year, but the 30 min. talk by a National
Park Ranger really makes the event come alive, and don't miss all the goodies
in brand new basement museum. Click here for information about timed entry tickets (theater is free).
And be sure to walk across the street to see Petersen House, where Lincoln died. |
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International Spy Museum – Do your kids wonder
about being a spy? The International Spy Museum is the perfect place to
find out (and there are more spies in Washington, DC than anywhere on earth).
Kids can pick their cover and see how they do as a spy – discover tricks
of the trade, try to break the codes, learn about bugging, disguises, microdots
and secret inks, flashlight guns and lapel knives, surveillance, and the
history of spies, including lady spies, spies in World II, Berlin and the
Cold War. The Spy Museum is great for older kids and teens. |
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Get the scoop
on the presidents and their families inside the White House – Abigail Adams
hung out her laundry in the East Room, Jefferson met people in his
bathrobe and slippers, Woodrow Wilson kept sheep on the lawn. Fun
caricature illustrations. (Picture book)
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True story of how a Portuguese water dog, born on a farm in Texas, came to live in the White House, and why he's called Bo. Delightfully illustrated. (Picture book)
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A
humorous look at presidential pets – grizzly bears, alligators, a herd of elephants, bald eagles, a garter
snake named Emily Spinach, tigers, parrots, opposums, lizards, pygmy
hippos, the First Fish, best-selling dog, and more. (Picture
book)
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Fun facts and short bios of all the kids in the White House – the Monroe daughters were the first kids to use tin bathtubs in the White House, Tad Lincoln hammered nails into his dad's desk, Alice Roosevelt carried her pet snake in her purse, Malia and Sasha Obama have to make their beds every day in the White House. (Illustrated chapter book)
Also, an easy reader: First Kids
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Archie Roosevelt, and his brother Kermit and sister Ethel uncover a riddle and clues that lead them on a treasure hunt through the White House (aided by a ghost) to find ... (Chapter book)
And for another super White House adventure: Chasing George Washington
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Open the pages on Abraham Lincoln's life, like finding a long-lost scrapbook in the attic, with old newpaper articles, photographs of the assassins and president, dramatic woodcut illustrations of Lincoln's family and the Civil War. (Picture book)
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Read this thrilling account of what happened the night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, and the twelve day hunt for John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices. Rich historical illustrations, photos and first hand accounts. Good for older kids. (Chapter book)
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This is the perfect book to read before you visit the International Spy Museum, written by the director of the museum, and a spy for thirty years. What a spy's life really like, plus spy speak, quizzes and practice your skills. (Chapter book)
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(More children's
books on other Washington, DC pages) |
