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Washington, DC White House History Tour 2 hr

TourTruth score 7.2 out of 10

AverageTop 40% in Washington DC

2 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • Washington DC
  • 2 hrs
  • Updated October 31, 2026

Explore the history of the White House and discover how Washington, DC, became the seat of the federal government.

About this tour

Discover how Washington, DC, became the seat of the federal government on a two-hour walk through the history surrounding the White House. The capital’s story began after the Revolutionary War, when the Residency Act of 1790 established New York City, Philadelphia, and eventually Washington as homes for the federal government.

With a knowledgeable local guide, explore historical sites spanning the period from the nation’s early years to the present. Learn about the challenges of establishing a capital in an undeveloped area, from surveying land and creating maps to planning a new center of government while the young nation faced substantial war debts. Thoroughly researched history brings the people and decisions behind the city’s development into focus.

Meet your guide in Lafayette Square, then follow the story through the historic surroundings of the White House. Choose this Washington, DC White House history tour for a closer look at the forces that shaped the capital and its role in American life.

Highlights

  • Explore the history of the White House and the federal government
  • Trace Washington, DC’s development as the nation’s capital
  • Hear thoroughly researched stories from a knowledgeable local guide

What's included

Included

  • Professional local guide
  • Thoroughly researched historical information

Not included

  • Food and drink

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • Meet in Lafayette Square; look for a guide wearing a white Junket T-shirt and holding a yellow flag
  • Arrive 15 minutes before the tour starts
  • Wheelchair accessible, including transportation and surfaces
  • Infants and small children can ride in a stroller
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  • Service animals are allowed
  • Public transportation is available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 5.00 from 2 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in Washington DC
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.2. Top 40% in Washington DC means it ranks in the top 40% of tours in Washington DC by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Washington DC

How many tours in Washington DC have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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