Last update: 11/17/2009

Individual, group and school tours

General public tours

Guided public tours of the Washington State Legislative Building are offered seven days a week hourly--between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m on weekdays, and between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekends. Tours are free and begin every hour on the hour and last 60 minutes. Public tours begin at the Tour Information Desk which is located on the second floor of the Legislative Building, just inside the main entrance doors.

The Legislative Building is closed on Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Group and school tours

The Washington State Capitol tour office accepts requests for tours throughout the year. Please go to our online tour request form for more information.

Please see the Teacher Information Packet for additional planning assistance and helpful hints.

Other useful links for school tour:

How much time do you need for your visit?

This will vary depending on the number of people, type of tour requested, and the time of year that you visit. Plan on a three hour tour if you are scheduling a school tour, one or two hours for all other groups.

Tour Options:

The State Capitol Tour Office offers a variety of standard tour options. We can also tailor a tour to fit your particular time constraints or logistical needs. A tour can range from a minimum of thirty minutes to a maximum of three hours. Please give us a call at (360) 902-8880 and our staff will be happy to help you determine what works best for your group’s needs.

Legislative Building Tour

The Legislative Building is the crowning piece of the Washington State Capitol Campus and is home to the Washington State Legislature and the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer. Completed in 1928, it boasts one of the tallest free standing masonry domes in the world and houses the largest chandelier ever made by the Tiffany Lighting Company. The tour of the Legislative Building includes the North Foyer, Rotunda, State Reception Room, and Legislative Galleries. This tour is targeted to all groups and last approximately one hour.

Governor’s Mansion Tour

The oldest standing building on the Capitol Campus, the red-brick Georgian style Executive Mansion has been home to Washington’s Governors since 1910. Fully restored and furnished with many antiques from the American Federal period, the mansion is open for public tours on most Wednesdays by reservation. Morning and afternoon tours are available, but group size is limited to 25. This tour is available for 4th grade and up.

Please note: School group tours of the mansion are limited to a 15 minute walk-thru if part of a Civic Education or Legislative Process Tour.

Civic Education Tour, available to groups of 10 or more (Available from September-June only)

This tour will focus on the three branches of government and includes information on the Legislative Building’s function, operation, symbolism and history. Also included in this tour is a visit to the Temple of Justice where your class will participate in a mock court hearing. This tour may include visits to the offices of the elected officials, Capitol Rotunda, State Reception Room, and Legislative Galleries of the House and Senate. The Civic Education Tour is three hours (including a lunch period) and is targeted to Elementary and Middle School Students.

Legislative Process Tour, available to groups of 10 or more (Available from September-June only)

This tour is an in-depth look at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch of Washington State Government. This tour can be customized in many ways, but the standard process tour includes a one hour class on the legislative process, hosted by the Legislative Information Center, and tour visits to legislative process locations. Additionally, your group may wish to participate in a mock court hearing in the Temple of Justice. This tour is three hours (includes a lunch period) and is specifically targeted to High School and Adult Groups.

Monument and memorial sites:

The Washington State Capitol Campus is home to many Veterans Memorials including the Winged Victory, POW-MIA, Medal of Honor, Vietnam Veterans, WW II, and Korean War Memorials. Self-Guided memorial brochures are available at the Visitor Information Desk and at the Legislative Building Tour Information Desk.

Story Pole:

Chief William Shelton’s story pole honors Northwest Native art. Unlike totem poles, which were often associated with individual tribal families, the story pole was associated with tribal communities and was used to teach children about cultural attitudes and community responsibility through the use of animal symbols and legends. Standing 71 feet tall, the story pole is carved with 17 unique animals and tribal figures and is located north east of the Legislative Building near the sunken garden.