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White House Announces 2023 Spring Garden Tour Dates

The event will take place the first weekend of april., by thayma sánchez • published march 14, 2023 • updated on march 15, 2023 at 6:21 am.

In just weeks, you will be able to enjoy guided walks through the gardens and patios of the White House.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden announced on Tuesday that tours will be open to the public on Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Although the event is free, tickets are required and will be available in a tent located outside the White House Visitor Center both days beginning at 8:30 a.m. Tickets will be available while they last, according to the press release.

The Spring Garden Tour entry point is located on 15th Street NW between E Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW. Advance reservations are not available, the White House said.

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Guided walks through the gardens of the Executive Mansion are held in spring and fall.

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Rubenstein Center Scholarship

The White House Garden Tours

A Legacy of First Lady Patricia Nixon

• Bob Bostock Curator of the "People Were Her Project" exhibit at the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library

This photograph is of the South Portico as seen from the lit fountain on the South Lawn of the White House. White House photographer Karl Schumacher took this photo on the evening of December 1, 1970, during the administration of Richard M. Nixon.

Show Me More

When the White House gates open at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 13th, thousands of people will stream through for the start of the 2019 White House Spring Garden Tour. Few of them will know that this special tour – one of only two weekends each year that the grounds of the President’s House are open to the general public – is part of the legacy of First Lady Patricia Nixon.

During her service as First Lady (1969-74), Mrs. Nixon undertook numerous initiatives to make the White House more accessible to visitors from across the country and around the world. Much of her attention was focused on the interior of the mansion itself – increasing its collection of historic furnishings , making it handicapped accessible, and developing special tours for blind and deaf tourists, among others.

But Pat Nixon didn’t limit her efforts to the interior of the White House. An avid gardener, she was also interested in making the White House’s historic gardens and grounds more accessible to the public.

First Lady Patricia Nixon leads Mayor-Commissioner of Washington, D.C. Walter Washington and a group of schoolchildren through the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden on April 14, 1973.

Her focus started with making it easier for the White House to be visible after dark. Unlike the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the Washington Monument, and other landmarks in the nation’s capital, the White House had never been illuminated at night. First Lady Patricia Nixon decided to change that.

She worked closely with the National Park Service, which is responsible for the White House Grounds, to develop the plan for appropriate exterior lighting. The cost of installing the lighting fixtures was covered by private funds remaining from those raised for the 1969 Presidential inaugural festivities. As a result of her vision, the people’s house has been illuminated every night since Mrs. Nixon ceremoniously turned on the lights on November 25, 1970.

Mrs. Nixon also began the practice of keeping the American flag flying over the White House 24 hours a day, every day. Previously, the flag was brought down every evening at sunset and raised again at sunrise the next day. It took a Presidential Proclamation to authorize the change, which President Nixon issued at Mrs. Nixon’s urging, on September 4, 1970. 1

First Lady Patricia Nixon leads Mayor-Commissioner of Washington, D.C. Walter Washington and a group of schoolchildren along the South Drive on April 14, 1973. The students were winners of a poster contest sponsored by the Society for a More Beautiful Capital, an organization founded by Mary Lasker and First Lady "Lady Bird" Johnson in 1964.

Mrs. Nixon next turned her attention to the White House Grounds themselves. Since 1878, the South Lawn had been opened nearly every year to young children and their families for the annual Easter Egg Roll . And throughout much of the 19th century and in the early part of the 20th century, people could stroll the grounds unescorted. Never before, however, had the grounds been opened for an informative tour that would, in Mrs. Nixon’s words, allow visitors to “share with us their present beauty and past history.” 2

Mrs. Nixon planted the seeds for the first Garden Tour in early 1972. Michael J. Farrell, who headed the White House Visitors Office, outlined Mrs. Nixon’s vision for the first Garden Tour in a brief memo. The tour would include the Rose Garden, much of the South Grounds, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. Visitors would receive a brochure that provided an overview of the grounds, and a military band would play during the tour.

The scope of the tour expanded during the planning process. Small groups of visitors would be allowed to walk through the Children’s Garden, gifted by the President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson shortly before they left Washington in January 1969, and the Ground Floor corridor and the rooms on the State Floor of the White House would also be open.

First Lady Patricia Nixon points out and explains photograph displays along the South Drive on April 14, 1973.

Considerable energy went into making the first Garden Tour a success. Under Mrs. Nixon’s direction, the Visitors Office coordinated the effort, involving many other White House offices. The photography office produced oversized photos of various events that took place on the grounds. The White House carpenters shop built the easels on which the photographs and signs highlighting special points of interest (such as commemorative trees) were placed. The Social Secretary’s office arranged for music. And Irvin Williams (who served as head gardener at the White House from 1962-2008) and Bill Ruback of the National Park Service would be on hand during the tour to answer visitors’ questions.

By the time the Garden Tour kicked-off, more than fifty different people were involved in planning and carrying out this first-ever Garden Tour. To show her appreciation for their effort, Mrs. Nixon personally inscribed and signed copies of the brochure for each person involved in creating this new White House event.

When the first day of the tour arrived, the sky was clear and sunny and the temperatures were cool – perfect weather for enjoying the White House gardens and grounds. Mrs. Nixon kicked off the tour, leading the mayor-commissioner of Washington, D.C., Walter Washington, and a group of local schoolchildren through the grounds. Among the students was, Duane Bolton, the first-place winner of a poster contest sponsored by the Society for a More Beautiful National Capital. Two families who were waiting in line were also invited to join the First Lady’s tour.

Duane Bolton, first-place winner of the poster contest sponsored by the Society for a More Beautiful Capital, presents his poster to First Lady Patricia Nixon and President Richard Nixon on April 14, 1973.

Starting in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, First Lady Patricia Nixon escorted her group around the grounds. As they walked, she pointed out such historic elements of the landscape as the Jefferson Mounds, which our third president is said to have created to provide visual interest to the otherwise flat lawn, various trees planted by presidents ranging from an American Elm planted by the sixth president, John Quincy Adams , to a Giant Sequoia planted by California native, President Richard Nixon , and the colorful spring flowers blooming around the fountain.

After walking along the South Drive, the group entered the Rose Garden, where they were joined by President Nixon. As they entered the Rose Garden, they passed by the towering Southern Magnolia. According to legend, it was planted by President Andrew Jackson in 1829 as a tribute to his late wife, who died shortly before Jackson became president.

By the time the first White House Garden Tour concluded the next day, nearly 11,500 people had helped launch a tradition that continues to this day. In the 46 years since, as many as one million people have walked the grounds during the spring and fall White House Garden Tours. And over the years, the White House Grounds have continued to evolve.

President Richard Nixon speaks with Duane Bolton near the Rose Garden during First Lady Patricia Nixon's White House gardens tour on April 14, 1973.

The American Elm planted by John Quincy Adams in 1826 finally succumbed to old age. In 1991, it was replaced by a seedling raised from that tree, planted by First Lady Barbara Bush . In 2009, F irst Lady Michelle Obama planted the White House Kitchen Garden to provide “home-grown” fresh, organic vegetables for the first family. In late 2017, the Jackson Magnolia was severely cut back as its branches grew so weak they proved to be a safety hazard. First Lady Melania Trump made sure, however, that wood removed was saved and that seedlings were propagated that could, one day, replace the ancient tree. And every president since the first Garden Tour has added at least one new tree to the White House Grounds.

One thing hasn’t changed, however. The tradition of opening the White House gardens and grounds to the public, started by First Lady Patricia Nixon in 1973, continues to delight visitors. Thanks to her vision, as visitors amble through the White House grounds, they are following in the footsteps of every president and first lady since President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams became the first residents of the White House in November 1800.

To learn more about the White House grounds, see The White House Garden by William Seale, published by the White House Historical Association. Memoranda about the planning for the Garden Tour are in the collections of the Richard Nixon Presidential Museum and Library of the National Archives, Yorba Linda, California.

First Lady Patricia Nixon and President Richard Nixon walk through the Rose Garden with schoolchildren on April 14, 1973.

This was originally published on April 9, 2019

Footnotes & Resources

• https://www.presidency.ucsb.ed...
• "White House Gardens and Grounds” brochure, Welcoming letter from Patricia Nixon, April 1973.

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White House opens private gardens to the public for Mother’s Day weekend

Thomas Robertson | [email protected]

May 9, 2024, 10:37 AM

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The White House will continue its annual tradition of opening its private gardens and South Grounds to the public, but this spring there’s a special twist — it’s happening Mother’s Day weekend.

Tours are available to the public from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

While the tours are free, visitors must have daily, timed tickets, which will be handed out at a tent stationed outside the White House Visitor Center starting at 8:30 a.m. on both tour days.

Members of the media will get the first look at the gardens on Friday.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, White House Kitchen Garden and South Lawn of the White House. The White House warns guests that bags, backpacks, purses and a lengthy list of other items are not allowed on White House grounds.

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Thomas Robertson is an Associate Producer and Web Writer/Editor at WTOP. After graduating in 2019 from James Madison University, Thomas moved away from Virginia for the first time in his life to cover the local government beat for a small daily newspaper in Zanesville, Ohio.

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2024 summer garden tours in the Milwaukee area and beyond

Gardens connect people to their environment, and garden clubs and neighborhood groups welcome you to some of those gardens — both private and public — on visiting days during the summer months. A garden tour provides the visitor an opportunity to see plant groupings or color combinations, nestled amid garden art and structures. Many tours are scheduled annually in the Milwaukee area and throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Here is a list of garden tours nearby, and others that will make a pleasant day trip.

May garden tours

Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens : The Friends group celebrates its 40th anniversary with an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 19. The event offers garden tours, light refreshments and education stations explaining Friends membership activities and programming. Free admission. 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners; (414) 525-5653, boernerbotanicalgardens.org

June garden tours

Rose Innovations : Visit the 2-acre rosarium of Will Radler, creator of the Knock Out family of roses. Four open garden events are scheduled this year: noon-3 p.m. June 15, 9 a.m.-noon July 13, 7-10 p.m. Aug. 23, and noon-3 p.m. Sept. 21. The gardens at 10020 W. Meadow Drive in Greenfield showcase raised beds, waterfalls and ponds, stone terraces, and a Knock Out Rose trial garden. A donation is suggested with the proceeds benefiting a designated nonprofit for the day.  roseinnovations.org

The Friends of the Muskego Library : "A Bloomin' Good Thyme" Garden Walk will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 22 with a tour of four private Muskego gardens. The day includes lectures by Roy Diblik, author and owner of Northwind Perennial Farm; Paul Ruszkiewicz from Paul’s Petal Pushers, who will provide gardening tips; and pond experts from Aquatica Ponds. There will be a Garden Tea, a pre-owned art sale, a Garden Boutique, a craft fair of garden art, raffle baskets and a more Tickets are $15; children 14 and under are admitted free. Proceeds will help fund library programming for all ages.  library.muskego.wi.gov

South Milwaukee Garden Club & Historical Society Garden Tour : Visit five gardens on a self-guided tour from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 22. Each garden was selected for its unique design elements, and local artisans and hand-crafted items will be for sale at select gardens. The Bayside Mobile Greenhouse will be visiting one of the selected gardens, offering plants, hanging baskets, pots and more for purchase. Tickets are $10. Purchase at Mari’s Flowers, Wine & Gifts, 905 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee. For more information, contact Patti Bergeson at (414) 768-9549 or [email protected].

Lake Country Art & Garden Tour : The summer-long program is a fusion of the arts and local gardens with events scheduled through September in the Lake Country area. The Pewaukee Area Arts Council, which organizes the annual tour, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a special event at Joel Pfeiffer’s Heartroots Sculpture Garden in Hartland on June 22. Enjoy live music from JVIOLIN, beverages, appetizers and desserts while exploring the garden. Registration is required. Visit  pewaukeearts.org .

July garden tours

Greendale Garden Walk : Free tours are offered from 8 a.m. to noon July 13 and start at the Gazebo in the Greendale Village Center, 5710 Broad St. The 2024 tour features the private gardens in the “C” section. Talk with the home owners, attend demonstrations by Southeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners, and enter drawings for gift baskets of garden-related items. No dogs allowed on the tour. No strollers, bikes or wagons in the yards. Donations welcome.  greendalegardenwalk.wordpress.com

Menomonee Falls Community League : Five gardens are open for viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 13. Gardens are located in Menomonee Falls, Colgate, and the Sussex/Lisbon area. Purchase tickets in advance for $10 at Shady Lane Greenhouse at W172 N7388 Shady Lane, or the Art Lounge at N88 W16567 Main St., Menomonee Falls. Day of the tour tickets will be available at the Shady Lane Nursery for $12. Proceeds from the tour will benefit area charities and scholarships. Call (414) 581-0352 or visit  communityleague.com .

Cedarburg Woman’s Club : The garden walk is held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 13 and 14. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Olsens Piggly Wiggly in Cedarburg and Mequon, Heyden’s Gardens, the Horicon Bank in Grafton, and at the gardens on the day of the event. All proceeds fund college scholarships, local community charities, and the maintenance of the Girl Scout House. More information:  cedarburgwomansclub.org .

The Gardens of West Bend Tour : Take a self-guided tour of five private gardens open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 13 and noon to 3 p.m. July 14. Each garden host has named their garden for the show, identifying specific features which may be of interest to visitors. The Tudor Garden incorporates bricks from a recent home remodel amid a variety of hostas; the Reminiscent Roots garden utilizes a "cottage-style" landscape; the Alpine Treasures garden showcases blooms of buttercups and ferns, a memorial garden and lilies; the Country Rock Gardens demonstrate how rocks that bordered the property were incorporated for use in the garden; and the Gardens on Blueberry Hill mingle deep colors into garden spaces. The tour is an important fundraiser for Roots and Branches, a nonprofit committed to improving the natural environment of West Bend. The event is held rain or shine and includes live music, plein air painters and raffles. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 the day of the tour. Purchase advance tickets online at the Roots & Branches website, or buy your ticket the day of the event at the first garden address: 906 Poplar St., West Bend. For more information, call (262) 335-5083 or visit  rootsbranches.org .

Riverwest Secret Garden Tour : Visit gardens in the Riverwest neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 14. Pick up a tour map of the gardens at the registration table in Garden Park, on the corner of Locust and Bremen streets. Leave all pets at home — no dogs or other animals are allowed on the tour. Tickets/maps are $5 the day of the tour, and proceeds benefit ongoing Riverwest community projects.  riverwestsecretgardentour.com

Summer Magic Garden Tour : The Racine Garden Club invites the public to tour seven private gardens from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 14. Highlights of the tour include an English cottage garden and a whimsical garden. Tickets are $10. Look for more information in June on the club website.  racinegardenclub.org

Oconomowoc Woman’s Club : Six gardens are featured on this driving tour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 20. Three of the gardens are in Oconomowoc, one is in Ashippun, and two have Hartland addresses on Highway 83. The addresses of the gardens and directions are included with your ticket purchase. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 on the day of the tour. Tickets may be purchased at these Oconomowoc locations: MayHouse Collections, W359 N5022 Brown St., Unit 106; Forgotten Treasures, 1305 W. Wisconsin Ave.; Books & Company, 1039 Summit Ave.; and any of the three Bank Five Nine locations. Rain date is July 21. More information: oconomowocwomansclub.com .

Whitefish Bay Garden Club : The “Small Spaces, Grand Places” garden walk is held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 20. The walk is held rain or shine, and it will include seven private gardens and six public gardens. Discover the hidden beauty of small spaces, native plantings, pollinator-friendly plants and colorful blooms. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 the day of the tour. All proceeds from ticket sales will go toward education and environmental projects in the community. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit  whitefishbaygardenclub.com .

Garden District Neighborhood Association : Tour 12 gardens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28 in the 13th aldermanic district on Milwaukee’s south side. The self-guided tour is free and signs will be placed in front of the houses to recognize those homes on the tour. Some full yards will be open for visitors, while other gardens will need to be viewed from the sidewalk. A map with tour locations will be posted on the Milwaukee Garden District website and Facebook page. Gardens are selected by area residents, with nominations due by July 8. For more information or to nominate a garden, call (414) 481-1928 or (414) 559-4400.  milwaukeegdna.com

August garden tours

Garden Conservancy : The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program celebrates creative and innovative private gardens. The 2024 Open Days for the Milwaukee area are presented in partnership with the Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee and will showcase three gardens in Ozaukee County. The featured gardens include The Farm on Hilly Lane in Saukville, which incorporates cottage-style gardens with substantial native plants, water features, and historic elements of the restored Hemlock Family Farmstead; the Bonniwell Garden in Mequon, which has a manicured landscape, vegetable garden, woodland paths, and perennial collections on about 6.5 acres of land; and the Glasshouse in the Prairie in Fredonia, with a 12-acre landscape of hardscape, gardens and prairie that was once an empty farm field. Garden tours are held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 10 and 11. All Open Days tours require pre-registration on the Garden Conservancy website. Tickets are $10 per person per garden.  gardenconservancy.org/open-days

Garden tours around Wisconsin

Olbrich Botanical Gardens : Madison’s public garden promotes an annual Home Garden Tour that will be held on July 12 and 13 this year. The tour will showcase seven gardens in Sun Prairie, highlighting environments that offer bird habitats, with hardy native plants and pollinator-friendly flowers. Ticket sales start June 18 in the lobby at Olbrich. Day-of tour tickets will be available at a designated home garden location. General admission is $16, Olbrich members are $14, children ages 6 to 12 are $7, and those 5 and under are free. olbrich.org/calendar/home-garden-tour

Four Seasons Secret Garden Walk : Tour of private gardens in the Kenosha area July 13. More information will be available in June on the club website.  4seasonsgardenclub.org/secret-garden-walk

Oshkosh Garden Walk : View five private gardens across the city from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 14. Expert gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and provide tips for growing your own garden. Visitors may travel to the gardens on their own schedule and in any order. Advance tickets are $8 for adults; children under 18 are free. Tickets are available for $10 on the day of the event at any garden location. oshkoshgardenclub.org

Door County House & Garden Walk : Tour select homes and gardens in the Door County area from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 30. The event is a benefit for the Door County Medical Center Behavioral Health Program.  dcmedical.org/volunteer/house-and-garden-walk

Tour Barack and Michelle Obama’s Martha's Vineyard home – a coastal retreat on the beautiful Massachusetts island

The luxury estate pays homage to its prestigious zipcode – comprising soothing neutral interiors and a verdant yard overlooking the Atlantic

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What do you get when one of the world’s most famous families buys a house in one of nation's most sought-after locations? Enter – the Obama house, located in Martha's Vineyard, that stands out as one of the most impressive properties we’ve ever seen.

Michelle, and the former president, Barack Obama, purchased ocean-front compound in 2020 for $11.75 million, and have since enjoyed the property and it’s proximity to the iconic Massachusetts coastline. Categorizable as one of the world's best homes , the 28-acre compound is a trove of pared-back coastal decor inspiration and comes complete with a detached barn and large swimming pool.

The 6,892-square-foot house sits on nearly 30 secluded acres fronting the Edgartown Great Pond between Slough Cove and Turkeyland Cove, both frequented by politicians and celebrities alike (meaning the Obama's are in good company).

Designed by Taylor Lombardo Architects in San Francisco, the home was built in 2001 by John Early, a well-known contractor local to the island. It's now a spot the Obamas love – and it's no secret that they enjoy spending downtime at Martha's Vineyard whenever they can.

Martha's Vineyard has famously been an annual holiday spot for the Obama family since their time in the White House. However, they started frequenting the office more regularly when Obama left office in January 2017.

Their home features seven bedrooms , eight and a half baths, and several stone fireplaces. There is a two-car garage, a detached barn, and a large pool. The land similarly includes a boat house, a pond a and a private beachfront with deeded rights, as per the former listing on LandVest .

The area has been popular with vacationing celebrities and politicians for many decades – Presidents Clinton and Kennedy both spent the holidays here with their families. However, this is the first time a former President has bought a home on the island.

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Obama and his family spent part of every August on the island for seven out of the eight years he was in office. They also visited the Island before, including when he was a senator from Illinois.

Inside, the home was designed with entertaining in mind. There's an expansive kitchen and a dining room with beautiful views across the bay. Similarly, the family room has plenty of space for relaxing. Architectural details, such as those on the ceiling of this room, give the house a sense of rustic charm and intricate character.

The stunning galleried living space is a masterclass in decorating with neutrals – from its white-pained walls and ceilings to the cream soft furnishings that ensure the space feels open and airy when drenched in natural sunlight. 

As mentioned, there are eight bedrooms , including a neutral-hued primary suite with ocean views. There are also lots of rooms for friends and family to stay with bedrooms furnished with beds and adjoining bathrooms. 

Outside, the raised sundeck is yet another space for the Obamas to rejuvinate, again with wonderful views across the bay.

When the Obama family purchased the home, it had been on the market since 2015, when it was listed for $22.5 million. The price dropped twice in the summer of 2020, first to $16.25 million in June, then to $14.85 million.

The purchase price, with the Dukes County Registry of Deeds, is listed at $11.75 million. 

According to the Vinyard Gazette , the property sale was expected to send '$235,000 to the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, which collects a two percent transfer fee on most arm’s length real estate transactions.'

'Money from the fees is used to buy conservation land and protect natural resources such as aquifers, scenic views, and farmland on the Vineyard.'

What is Martha's Vineyard known for?

Martha's Vineyard is an island south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, USA, and is famous as a summer vacation destination for Americans – and vacationers from other countries. 

What celebrities live on Martha's Vineyard?

Other than the Obama house, Martha's Vineyard has a scattering of estates that belong to – or have been rented by – the rich and famous, both past and present. They include Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Jeffrey Kramer, Spike Lee and Oprah Winfrey.

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Miminic the ocean waves without going overboard with this chic sheet set. In a high-quality percale cotton, it'll feel like you're on vacation.

From $34.99 at H&M Home

Simple striations on an off-white ceramic base bring a sense of tranquility to this vase, and the base is wide enough to display all your favorite flowers with ease.

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

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Struggling to sleep in a hot bedroom with no AC Unit? Here's how to cool down a bedroom fast, according to experts.

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By Drew Swainston Published 17 May 24

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Garden tours, plants sales and more ways to spend time among flowers

Visit Maine's botanical gardens or get a sneak peek of what your neighbors are growing in their back yards.

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One of the loveliest ways to ease yourself fully out of the post-winter blahs and into springtime is to quit being a wallflower and instead surround yourself with living, blooming plants.

From botanical gardens to plant sales and garden tours, it’s time to make like the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” and while away the hours, conferring with flowers.

The waterfall at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. Photo by Tory Paxson, Courtesy of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

TOTALLY BOTANICAL

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay is open for the season, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maine Days are May 31 to June 2, when anyone with a Maine driver’s license or state ID gets in for free. Ditto for dads/father figures on Father’s Day (June 16). Advance registration is required. With more than 300 acres of gardens and natural spaces, including a waterfall, there will be plenty to see, smell and bask in the scenery.

Here are more things to do in Boothbay

A tour group walks on the boardwalk at Viles Arboretum in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Viles Arboretum is a botanical garden in Augusta with 6 miles of trails and more than 20 botanical collections. It’s open daily from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free. There are 224 acres with all sorts of flora and fauna to discover. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the visitor center is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Viles Arboretum offers medicinal plant walks, and although the May 18 session is full, you can still register for the June 15 and Sept. 14 events, lead by herbalist, homeopath and flower essence practitioner Debra Bluth. Tickets are $25. Advertisement

The Mount Desert Land & Garden Preserve has four areas to explore on its property in Northeast Harbor: the Asticou Azelea Garden (dawn to dusk daily), the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden (noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday from July 9 to Sept. 8, reservations required), Thuya Garden (dawn to dusk daily, June 15 to Oct. 14) and Little Long Pond Natural Lands (hiking trails and carriage roads open dawn to dusk daily). On June 26, at the Wildflowers of Little Long Pond event, participants can wander around the garden’s fields and forest, spotting wildflowers along the way while practicing how to identify them.

Joyce Saltman, right, and Beth Anisbeck embrace a tree for 60 seconds during a tree hugging event sponsored by Portland Parks and Recreation, at Deering Oaks Park last year. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer

TOURS AND MORE

2nd Annual Tree Hugging 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Deering Oaks Park, Portland. portlandmaine.gov The tree hugging is a family-friendly community gathering to celebrate Portland’s many trees. Park ranger Liz Collado will lead a sensory awakening and forest bathing session. Along with tree hugging, there will be a storytime, and you can touch a forestry truck and meet naturalist Noah Querido and Portland city arborist Mark Reiland. Just down the road, you’ll find Fessenden Park, on the corner of Brighton and Deering Avenues. The tulips have arrived, and it’s worth a visit to see them.

McLaughlin Garden Lilac Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 24. McLaughlin Garden and Homestead, 97 Main St., South Paris, $5. mclaughlingardens.org You’ll find more than 125 varieties of lilacs at the McLaughlin Garden Lilac Festival. Explore on your own or take a guided tour led by a horticulturist. There will also be family-friendly activities, and you can shop for native and unusual plants.

4th annual Woodfords Community Garden Tour 1-4 p.m. June 8. Woodfords Corner Community in Back Cove, Deering Highlands, Oakdale and Deering Center, $20 suggested donation. woodfordscorner.org Presented by Friends of Woodfords Corner, this self-guided tour features at least 10 gardens. As you make your way down the list, you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised by all of the hidden havens bursting with flowers, plants and impressive yardscaping elements.

Peony Society of Maine 23rd annual Garden Tour 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8 and 15. Both tours start at 1348 Ohio St., Bangor, $5 donation. peonysocietyofmaine.net You’ll visit multiple gardens in Bangor, Winterport, Ripley and St. Albans, and your senses will be filled with countless peonies. A peony plant will be raffled off at the end of each tour. Advertisement

Hidden Gardens of Historic Bath 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 22. Sagadahoc Preservation Inc., 880 Washington St., Bath, $40. sagadahocpreservation.org The Hidden Gardens of Historic Bath house and garden tour features several homes in North Bath. Every stop on the tour will be a treat for your senses and may motivate you to make some of your own magic when you get back home.

Garden Conservancy Open Garden Days 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 29. Beckett Castle Rose Garden, Singles Road, Cape Elizabeth, $10. gardenconservancy.org You’ll see plenty of roses as well as ocean views at Beckett Castle, which sits right on the water, with views of five lighthouses. The castle was built in 1871, and its rose garden features more than 70 varieties of heirloom roses. A 50-foot stone tower doubles as the rose arbor entrance to the castle.

PICK A PLANT SALE

Tate House Museum’s Annual Plant and Herb Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18. Tate House Museum, 1267 Westbrook St., Portland, 207-774-6177.  tatehouse.org The wide selection includes perennials divided from the museum’s 18th century reproduction garden. Visitors can also make their own “seed bombs” and get a sneak peak at a new installation by artist Ashley Page from 10 a.m. to noon.

Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland Spring Plant S ale 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 18, Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, 217 Landing Road, Westbrook, 207-854-9771.  arlgp.org   Perennials, house plants and more will be on sale, and plants that don’t have specific pricing are “name your own fee.” Anyone interested in donating plants or pots to the sale should send a message to [email protected] .

Taking Root Plant Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 1, Tom Settlemire Community Garden, Maurice Drive, Brunswick, 207-729-7694.  btlt.org This annual sale is organized by the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. Proceeds benefit the Common Good Garden, which provides food and gardening education for the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. Master gardeners will be on hand to help shoppers choose their best options.

Scarborough Land Trust Native Plant Sale and Spring Festival 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 1, Broadturn Farm, 388 Broadturn Road, Scarborough, 207-289-1199.  scarboroughlandtrust.org Visitors will find native plants, food vendors, local artisans, guided nature walks and activities for kids. To preorder plants, visit the Scarborough Land Trust website.

Maine Audubon Society Native Plants Sale and Festival 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 8, Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, 207-781-2330.  maineaudubon.org More than 75 species of native wildflowers, shrubs and tree seedlings will be available, along with workshops, info tables and experts.

Staff writer Megan Gray contributed to this report.

Related Headlines

Headed to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens? Here’s what else to check out in Boothbay

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21 Front Yard Landscaping Ideas With Rocks, Stone, and Mulch

Carve out naturally beautiful borders, stairs, and sitting areas.

While mulch is one of the more traditional curb appeal materials for landscaping that adds appeal when paired with flowers, stone and rock are just as appealing if not more. We love decorating front yards with these natural materials since they come in a variety of soft colors and have a rustic charm with a sophisticated touch. But, if you have a hard time deciding which material to use in your front yard landscaping , you can't go wrong with mixing all three.

Still needing some inspiration for your new exterior design ? Here are 21 front yard landscaping ideas with rocks, stone, and mulch to get you started.

For more landscaping inspiration:

• 8 5 Landscaping Ideas for an Enchanting Outdoor Space
• 15 Low-Maintenance Front Yard Landscaping Ideas
• 25 Flower Bed Ideas That Are Bursting With Color

Keep It Light

There’s something comforting and elegant about the mix of light shades in the front yard of our 2022 Whole Home in Atlanta . The gray two-tone stone of the house combined with the white stone porch, side flower beds, steps, and pavers gives it a modern appeal that’s soft and stunning.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to House Siding Options

Up the Romance

Whether you’re leveling out a yard that slopes in the back or want a new look for your flower bed, we recommend layering stones for extra dimension. Few things look more charming than flowers tumbling over a stone wall.

Related: 25 Flower Bed Ideas That Are Bursting With Color

Create a Conversation Pit

Have extra space behind the pool house or next to the garage? Take a cue from this Michael Ellison project on Nantucket, and build out a sitting area with a fire pit and lounge chairs. The pebbles and pavers cut distinct zones into the yard.

Tour the Entire Home

Related: 21 Backyard Fire Pit Ideas

Carve Out a Corner

On top of the nice contrast mulch brings your yard and home, the landscaping favorite is beneficial for flower gardens. Mulch helps to suppress weeds and retain moisture, which means less watering on your part. You can use mulch to carve out a small flower bed along a curve in a sidewalk or driveway. We love how the plantings designer Juan Carretero has at his Victorian-style home in Catskill, New York, are bordered by light-colored stone pavers.

Related: 10 Beautiful Walkway Ideas for Your Yard

Use Complementary Colors

To create an outdoor conversation area at this L.A. home, Jeremiah Brent looked to a simple landscaping idea with stones. A simple stone paver patio sheltered by arbors covered in greenery and wired with lanterns looks clean and romantic. The white upholstery complements the light stone for an earthy, cohesive design.

Related: Jeremiah Brent on Design Stigmas and All Those 'Queer Eye' Rumors

Combine Rocks and Mulch

If your home doesn’t have room for a full-on garden, make a mini one in the front yard by combining rocks and mulch in a flower bed. The mulch acts as a nice base for the flowers and shrubs, while the border of rocks adds interest and natural beauty to the design.

How stunning is the rock garden at the center of this driveway? In lieu of a fountain, Tyler O’Brien of Agave Custom Homes gave our 2021 Whole Home in Texas Wine Country a smattering of succulents and trees that can stand up to the heat. Lighter-colored statement rocks stand out from the gravel and reference the home's stone exterior.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Rock Gardens

Blend Into Nature

Highlight the natural beauty of your yard by surrounding a stone paver patio with a dense privacy hedge, as designer Katie Hodges did at her own Hollywood Hills home. The earthy hues mix to create a serene atmosphere, making you want to stay outside all day (just don’t forget to add in a nice set of outdoor furniture).

Related: 8 Best Trees and Shrubs for Backyard Privacy

Design a Labyrinth

To bring whimsy and fun into your enchanted garden, use rocks and landscaping stone to build in a design. The stones can act as a walkway (or even a labyrinth for meditation) while the rocks serve as your landscaping base, or you can use the materials as a border for areas in your flower beds.

Highlight Your Greenery

Make your front yard landscaping rocks pop by planting dark green plants in the flower bed. A high-contrast design like this one automatically draws attention to your front yard and is pleasing to the eye, especially if your home’s exterior is a lighter color.

Set It in Brick

To renovate the facade of his home, Edgewood Hall, designer Eddie Ross used reclaimed brick to rebuild the stairs and edge the wide front flower beds. Wider stone pavers designate the front walk.

Stamp a Pattern

Designer Javier Burkle loves to entertain at his Dallas home, and because it’s tiny, his parties often happen outside. This unique landscaping idea with stone gives his patio a crisp, graphic look. We love how the pavers coordinate with the white stone privacy fence, which makes his get-togethers seem even more exclusive.

Extend an Entryway

For rustic curb appeal, try a front yard landscape idea with stone along the porch, flower beds, and walkway, as Victoria Hagan did here. The larger stones form a seat wall that divides the flower beds and offers guests a spot to linger as they come and go. The natural materials look charming together, especially set against this home's stained board-and-batten exterior.

Related: What Is Board-and-Batten Siding?

Lay a Foundation

Sometimes mulch requires lots of maintenance even though it creates a beautiful flower bed. On the contrary, rock flower beds reduce the maintenance needs without sacrificing appeal. This material fills your garden area with texture and durability since the rocks prevent erosion and can withstand heavy foot traffic. Plus, our favorite quality is the accentuation of natural beauty.

Outline Flower Beds

You take the time to fill your flower beds with colors that pop, so enhance the contrast even more by outlining your flower beds with a loose stone border. It separates the mulch from the grass and adds contrast. For a fun touch, sprinkle larger rocks among your flowers—and don’t forget a stone rabbit statuary.

Edge a Pond

Does your yard have a lily pond or small watering hole? Accentuate the feature with a stone edge. The material will help define the pond’s shape and enhance its natural beauty.

Widen a Front Walk

If you’re looking for ways to add charm to the front of your home, opting for stone pavers for your sidewalk will do the trick. Stone creates a pleasing backdrop full of drama and elegance that ties the area together when paired with front porch planters, a bright painted front door, and greenery.

Elevate a Porch

If your home is slightly raised, like photographer Victoria Pearson’s home in Ojai, California, the front yard will benefit greatly from the texture of stone along the front porch to fill in the extra height. This creates a seamless design and elevates the look of the exterior.

Add Some Art

At designer Amanda Reynal’s cottage in the Catskills, the stone patio gets a fun accent from smaller inlaid rocks that create a radiating pattern. We love how the natural colors cohere with the garden wall behind the flower beds.

Frame a Fire Pit

A natural stone seat wall and pavers create an outdoor room amid the expansive tiered lawn of home on Lake Michigan. Mariani Landscape ’s Sara Furlan included a fire pit built out of the same material. The surrounding plant beds also feature border walls in the same stone for a cohesive look.

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This fortress-like concrete house in Singapore hides a surprise within

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This monolithic house by Formwerkz Architects has internal spaces unfolding around a series of lush gardens. 

The house sits on a 1,440-sq-m plot of land. (Photo: Finbarr Fallon)

This audio is AI-generated.

Luo Jingmei

Given its fortress-like architecture of tall concrete windows and minimal windows, it is not surprising that when the homeowner’s friends saw it from the outside while it was being built, they likened it to a museum or embassy.

Now that the home for the multigenerational family of a local developer is completed, those who have visited the house marvel at the contrasting sense of openness and abundant nature, thanks to a substantial terraced courtyard in the centre . Spaces and corridors unfold around it, so there is light, breeze and greenery everywhere one looks and ambles.

A perfect imagery is that of a rock where the insides have been hollowed out and filled with a wild garden. “It has a courtyard design where all the interior spaces are organised around gardens in the centre. Limited and veiled connection to the exterior happens at selected moments,” described Alan Tay, co-founder of Formwerkz Architects.

This inward-looking architecture was a response to the “extremities” of the site. The main gate faces the car park entrance of the popular Adam Road Food Centre, while the western elevation fronts the cacophonous Dunearn Road and Farrer Flyover. The latter also suffers from direct exposure to the western sun and lack of privacy from the busy pedestrian walkway along the main road.

Tay mentioned that the honking from impatient drivers trying to find a parking space at the food centre is a constant throughout the day. It is a wonder that anybody would buy this plot.

But the owner did, with eyes wide open about these challenges. He had engaged Tay to design his former homes and had confidence in his expertise on the matter. “He wanted a design that could resolve and rise above these disamenities, tasking me to create a haven of tranquillity amid the surrounding chaos,” said Tay.

The house’s form traces the 1,440-sq-m plot’s trapezoidal shape, pushed to the edge as much as possible to maximise the internal areas. Given the size of the land, even with the capacious courtyard, the built-up area still adds up to a comfortable 1,280 sq m that is contained within a “simple solid concrete form”.

The choice of concrete makes the house look impenetrable. Tay highlighted that it was chosen for its many advantages. “I love concrete. It can do many things. It is a very robust material both as a structure and finish. It is perfect for buffering external noise while creating a comfortable micro-climate within, when deployed appropriately.”

The landscaping as well as filigree patterns on the external facades soften the industrial aesthetic. The idea came about because of the owner’s appreciation of Victorian interiors. Tay said: “He wanted something fancy and unique; we wanted to work with concrete. And so the pattern on the concrete abstracts intricate English lace.”

The patterns come from the plywood formwork used to cast the concrete walls. Tay worked with design-to-fabrication consultancy Superstructure to design the patterns. “Modular variations were derived from computational design based on a diagrid. A CNC machine milled the patterns onto the plywood formworks for the concrete casting,” Tay elaborated.

Some of the fenestrations facing the outside are layered with an aluminium screen; the patterns feature a variation of the same diagrid pattern but are perforated for light and privacy control. Laminated windows keep the noise out.

From the entrance facing Adam Road Food Centre, a driveway leads to the basement housing a garage for seven cars, a guestroom and entertainment areas. Ample space in the basement is given to a garden that opens to the sky with trees rising upward to meet a landscaped deck on the first storey.

The main entrance on the first storey is subtle – a small opening at the corner of the skewed plan, sheltered by a black steel canopy. Past a lush planter, the main door leads to the living room that opens to a grassed terrace overlooking the basement garden.

Standing at this terrace, one can survey the genius of the internal organisation – an exercise in structural acrobatics featuring a fluid circulation loop around the courtyard. Traversing around the house feels unencumbered, as there are minimal dead ends.

On the first storey, the living room and grandparents’ room lead to the service spaces and dining area. Here, a door opens to an outdoor sheltered staircase that scales a concrete wall to the children’s bedrooms on the second storey. The loop continues to the master suite above the dining area before culminating in a swimming pool on the rooftop offering a vista of tree crowns and houses’ roof in the near distance, an oasis far from the madding crowd of the streets.

A straight vertical staircase and elevator in the corner link all the floors directly but given the choice, the outdoor steps provide a more delightful way of transitioning levels . Tay meant for the outdoor staircase  as a “shortcut” linking the children’s bedrooms to the dining room.

W alking up and down this path lets one enjoy the greenery in the courtyard as well as sky views. Along this elevation, Tay dipped a corner of the concrete wall so that the verdant treetops of the neighbour’s Eugenia trees peek through. “The slant of this wall also makes the house feel less bunker-like,” he commented.

The assortment of green spaces includes a terrarium-like garden at the western side of the plot. Sliding glass doors separate it from the corridor for practical purposes. Tay explained that while the concrete wall is perfect for sound absorption, it also absorbs the heat from the day and releases it at night “like a battery pack”.

He added: "This enclosed garden buffers against heat, which will be uncomfortable for the interior spaces after dark. So we created a void in the roof where the heat can escape through." The occupants can also open the glass doors when they wish to generate internal cross ventilation.

The landscaping has been carefully designed to create an assortment of garden types. “It presents the reinforcement of two worlds: The external garden surrounding the house that is more formal, minimalist and ordered, contrasting with the vibrant and slightly chaotic neighbourhood; and the internal gardens comprising the main terraced courtyard and the two smaller pocket gardens that employ a richer and more varied planting style,” shared Tay.

One encounters other interesting spaces when moving about the home, such as the voluminous corridor outside the children’s bedrooms. A defect in the concrete wall prompted Tay to add a metal bar on the wall that hides a light trough to illuminate future paintings. A skylight running the length of this space exposes changing weather as well as the dynamic slanting roof. 

Another mesmerising corner is at the terrarium-like garden, where massive concrete surfaces rising several storeys provide a vertical stage for the play of light and shadow. Rain falling through the void in the roof adds to the theatrics of nature.

The entire architecture is conceived as a monolith, with the concrete walls rising to meet a sleek metal roof. The origin of the concrete house takes a page from the Brutalist architecture style that started in the 1950s in the United Kingdom and that has become trendy of late. Yet, its sensitive appropriation for the local context and delightful spatial manoeuvres make it an entirely original.

A bungalow that was once home to former President Ong Teng Cheong

The multigenerational home of a Singapore doctor and his seven-member family

What it’s like for a family living in a black-and-white bungalow in Singapore

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THE 10 BEST Stary Oskol Sights & Historical Landmarks

Stary oskol landmarks.

• Monuments & Statues
• Architectural Buildings
• Churches & Cathedrals
• Points of Interest & Landmarks
• Scenic Walking Areas
• Arenas & Stadiums
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Kids
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Couples
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh

2. Elijah Church

3. Monument to the Founders of Stary Oskol

4. Alexander Nevskiy Cathedral

5. Holy Trinity Church

6. Promagro

7. Church of Ascension

8. Temple Saint Blessed Grand Duchess Olga and Holy Duchess Anastasia

9. Dyakov's Office

10. Monument to Georgiy Zhukov

11. Alexander Nevskiy Cathedral

12. Holy Cross Church

13. Heart of The City

14. Monument of Aleksandr Nevskiy

15. Alley of Honor

16. Stella City of Military Glory

17. Dnedrologicheskiy Park Ilyiny

18. Locomotive SU 211-75

19. Monument to the Soldier

20. Monument to Vatutin

21. Lenin Monument

22. st. nicholas church, 23. the nativity of st. john.

24. Monument to M.S. Tokarev

25. Monument to V.N. Kalachev

26. stella mig-23, 27. the building of the former noble assembly, 28. monument of soviet-bulgarian friendship, 29. monument to pushkin, 30. church of the nativity.

• Yekaterinburg
• Novosibirsk
• Vladivostok

Stary Oskol

• Tours to Russia
• Practicalities
• Russia in Lists

Rusmania • Deep into Russia

• Belgorod Region

Stary Oskol is the Belgorod Region’s second city by population and today consists of two main parts: the historical centre on the hill and the new centre made up of blocks of housing estates (mikroraiony). It is named after the river on which it stands on; the word stary (old) was added to distinguish it from the new settlement of Novy Oskol (New Oskol). Just outside the city is an impressive cave-monastery complex.

Top recommendations in Stary Oskol

Kholkovsky Monastery

Travel outside the city to the nearby settlement of Kholki to visit the Kholkovsky Monastery - an impressive cave monastery.

Historical Centre

Walk around the historical part of the city, located where once a wooden fortress stood to protect Russia’s southern borders, and visit the museum here.

War Memorials

Have a look at all the war memorial in the city - in recognition of Stary Oskol’s status as a City of Military Glory.

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The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

Visit The White House

The President and Dr. Biden are delighted to welcome members of the public to tour the White House. Public tour requests are scheduled through your Member of Congress and their Congressional Tour Coordinator. Constituents may reach your Member of Congress and Congressional Tour Coordinator through the U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard at 202-225-3121, the U.S. Senate Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or online at  www.congress.gov/members .

Consistent with prior practices, public White House tour requests must be submitted a minimum of 21 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance of the requested tour date(s). Reservations cannot be accepted for tour dates outside this 21 – 90-day window.  

Public tours are typically available from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted. If your tour is confirmed, please note that you will be assigned a specific time.  All White House tours are free of charge. The White House tour schedule is subject to change, with little notice, based on inclement weather or official use.

If you are a citizen of a foreign country, please contact your embassy in Washington, D.C. for assistance in submitting a tour request.

Identification Requirements

All U.S. citizens ages 18 and older, and foreign nationals of all ages (including children), must present a valid, government-issued photo ID upon arrival for their tour. Acceptable forms of identification are below.

U.S. CITIZENS

• United States Driver’s License
• Valid United States Passport
• United States Military ID

FOREIGN NATIONALS

• Valid Passport
• Alien Registration Card
• Permanent Resident Card
• U.S. State Department Issued Diplomatic ID Card

A U.S. driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification for foreign nationals. No foreign-issued state IDs, foreign-issued driver’s licenses, expired passports, photocopies, other transmissions of these documents, or other forms of identification will be accepted. Individuals without acceptable identification, or whose identification does not exactly match the information previously registered, may be denied entry.

Prohibited Items

• Bags of any kind (including fanny packs and clutches)
• Cameras with detachable lenses
• Electric stun guns
• E-cigarettes
• Knives of any kind
• Martial arts
• Tobacco Products
• Toy Weapons
• Video cameras
• Weapons/devices
• Any pointed object
• Any other item determined to be a potential safety hazard

Please note that storage facilities are not provided during your visit. Individuals who arrive with bags or prohibited items will not be permitted to enter the White House.

Permitted Items

• Baby carriers worn on the body
• Breast pumps
• Cell phones
• Compact cameras with lenses less than 3 inches
• Umbrellas without metal tips
• All items needed for medical purposes (i.e. wheelchairs, EpiPens, medication, etc.)

Getting Here

Use of public transportation is strongly encouraged, as there is no parking available on the White House complex and street parking is limited. The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines), Metro Center (blue, orange, silver, and red lines), and McPherson Square (blue, orange, and silver lines).

The White House Tour entrance is located in Sherman Park at 15th Street NW and Alexander Hamilton Place NW. If arriving by rideshare, use the White House Visitor Center (WHVC) as the drop-off address. The WHVC is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20230, which is one block from the White House.

Restrooms are located at the White House Visitors Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20230. There are no restrooms available once you arrive for your tour.

Accessibility

The White House tour route is wheelchair accessible. Visitors who wish to use a White House wheelchair should notify a U.S. Secret Service officer upon arrival.

Guide animals are permitted in the White House.

Health and Safety Guidance

Guests who receive a confirmed tour reservation will be issued a White House Tour Pass ahead of their tour date containing pertinent health and safety guidance.

Know Before You Go

• Tours are self-guided and last approximately 45 minutes
• Eat a snack and stay hydrated prior to arrival.
• Dress for the weather, knowing you will be outside before your tour.
• Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time.
• No late arrivals are accepted.
• All guests must be previously registered via the RSVP link provided by the White House.
• Please silence your cell phone and refrain from phone calls during the tour.
• No flash photography or video recording is permitted during your tour.
• Visitors may call the 24-hour Visitors Office information line at 202-456-7041 for latest updates and information relevant to White House tours.

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