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Good news, history buffs and train fanatics: Just in time for America's 250th, Washington D.C.'s Union Station is bringing back guided historic tours. The Beaux-Arts landmark is a bustling transportation hub where passengers breeze through while coming and going. But beginning this May, you're invited to slow down and get to know the station on a deeper level.
Starting May 7, you can book a 90-minute experience that will take you from the main concourse to corners of the station that most travelers never see. Offered on Thursdays and Saturdays, the guided tours are your chance to discover all the details you miss when you’re trying not to miss your train.
The route covers the soaring Main Hall, the East and West Halls and, most intriguingly, the Presidential Suite. Originally built so that presidents could safely await their trains or welcome dignitaries, this grand space is now available for events.
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As you tour the station, guides connect the dots between the station’s 1907 debut, its grand design ambitions and its role as a symbolic front door to the nation's capital. You’ll hear stories about the waves of travelers who passed through, from soldiers to presidents, and how the building itself has been reshaped over time.
The relaunch of the tours comes as part of broader efforts to modernize and revitalize the station, positioning it as both a transport hub and a cultural destination. So while you’re looking up at gilded ceilings, you’re also getting a sense of what the station's next chapter might look like. Even if you think you know Union Station, there's probably a lot you don't know. This is your chance to see what’s been hiding in plain sight.
Tours cost $25, are limited to ten people each and must be booked in advance online through Airbnb Experiences. Tours are available Thursdays from 6-7:30pm and Saturdays from 10-11:30am and 12-1:30pm.