White House visitor center?

You have to get tickets from your congressman to actually get in to the White House tours. The White House Visitor center is open to all, without advance reservation. It's the alternative your congressman will suggest when you find you can't get in to the White House itself. Just like popular camping spots, try for the White House tours a very, very long time ahead - many months. But they won't confirm anything until two weeks before your anticipated visit, when you find if you've won or have to go to the Visitor Center instead.

We didn't get in a couple of weeks ago, so skipped it - spent a lot more time in the various Smithsonian museums instead.

You have to contact your congressman or senator to get in. Their offices make the arrangements. You just tell them what day you want to go and they set up the time for you to go. The Secret Service has a list of of all the reservations to let you in. You need your photo id. We had to do this in 2010 through our congressman's office.

We didn't get in. The line was very long, it was very hot(July), and they don't allow you to have a bottle of water(or anything else) while standing in the line, which is outside. So we gave up.