mark warner white house tour

Tourists can finally visit the Oval Office. A replica is opening near the White House on Monday

Admission is free., by darlene superville | associated press • published september 20, 2024 • updated on september 20, 2024 at 12:06 pm.

Washington is getting a new tourist stop that offers visitors the next best thing to being in the Oval Office: an identical replica of President Joe Biden's office, right down to his desk, the armchairs in front of the fireplace and the weathered family Bible resting on a side table.

And when Biden's successor takes office next year, the full-scale replica Oval Office at “ The People's House: A White House Experience" will be redecorated to look exactly like the new president's office, said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association , which is opening the doors of its technology-driven education center to the public on Monday.

📺 Watch News4 now: Stream NBC4 newscasts for free right here, right now.

A separate space in the center called the “Immersive Theater” uses technology to transform into some of the more notable rooms in the White House every five minutes.

What Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour says about ‘passion tourism'

Too many people, not enough management: A look at the chaos of ‘overtourism' in the summer of 2024

“A terrific thing about this Oval Office, unlike the current Oval Office, is if you’re visiting us you can come and you can sit in this chair and be the president of the United States," McLaurin said, talking about the desk chair as he led The Associated Press on a tour of the center before Monday's opening.

Few people ever set foot in the Oval Office. It is not on the White House public tour route. But at “The People’s House,” not only will visitors get to see what one of the most famous offices in the world looks like, they can experience it, too.

“You can take a call from Mr. Putin or anybody you’d like to receive a call from, have your photo taken there,” McLaurin said. "You can sit on the sofas or in the president's chair as you’ve visualized him sitting there and you see him on the news talking with a visitor or a head of state. You can do the same thing right there in front of the fireplace.”

The wallpaper, draperies, rug, furniture, paintings and other artwork are exact replicas of the furnishings as they are currently in the Oval Office. The plan is to change the decor with each future president.

“It is exactly like President Biden's, exactly,” McLaurin said. “Even the family Bible with the weathered elements are duplicated.”

Except for the “digital column” in the center of the room that shows visitors how the physical office has evolved throughout the presidency. It also turns into a mirror so visitors can see themselves standing in the Oval Office.

Technology is also used to transform the “Immersive Theater” every five minutes into each of the five rooms on the White House State Floor: the East Room, the Red, Blue and Green Rooms, and the State Dining Room. Images on the walls in each room were chosen by the association's historians. Visitors can touch the walls to unlock information about the art, furniture or other history that happened there.

"We want people to feel they are in that room of the White House,” McLaurin said.

Leaving the theater, visitors will walk to the replica Oval Office along a stone path resembling the White House colonnade with a view of art made to represent the Rose Garden.

Another exhibit shows how presidents use the White House for work, family and social functions. Visitors can attend Cabinet meetings and vote on a course of action for the president, sit at a table set as it would be for a state dinner to learn how presidents use these glitzy events to conduct diplomacy, or settle into a seat in the family movie theater.

In a separate gallery, the head groundskeeper, florist, lead military aide and chief usher are among White House staff members featured on video explaining what they do.

After entering the education center, visitors will come upon a large model of the south side of the White House, listen to an audio greeting from first lady Jill Biden and watch an orientation film narrated by Martin Sheen, who played a president on television's “The West Wing.”

The back side of the model looks like a dollhouse, exposing cutaways of the ground, state and residence floor rooms. Visitors can tap electronic kiosks to learn more about the rooms.

The education center covers three floors of an office building at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave., one block from the White House. Technology is used throughout to help teach the history of the executive mansion, the presidents and the families who have lived there, and the staff whose work keeps it functioning in its multiples roles as a workplace, a residence and a museum.

McLaurin said the center was designed to be an enhancement to the White House public tour, not a replacement. But with White House tour tickets hard to get, he expects “the vast majority of the people who have the opportunity to visit here will not have the privilege to visit the White House itself.”

Jill Biden visited twice during construction and has planned an event on the White House lawn on Saturday to celebrate next week's opening.

“This new immersive education center will take visitors on an incredible journey using technology and innovation to bring White House history to life,” said the first lady, a community college professor. “Especially as an educator, I'm so excited to see it opening to the public.”

Admission is free, but visitors must request timed tickets. The association is planning for 800 visitors every day, with most staying a little over an hour.

The association raised $60 million for construction and initial operating costs, and is working to build a $50 million endowment to sustain operations, McLaurin said.

The White House Historical Association was created in 1961 by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to help preserve the museum quality of the interior of the White House and educate the public. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that receives no government funding. It raises money mostly through private donations and merchandise sales, including an annual Christmas ornament.

This article tagged under:

  Sen. Mark Warner

Senate Democratic Conference Vice Chair and Senator for Virginia

pronounced mahrk // WAWR-ner

Warner is the senior senator from Virginia and is a Democrat. He has served since Jan 6, 2009. Warner is next up for reelection in 2026 and serves until Jan 3, 2027. He is 69 years old.

He is also Senate Democratic Conference Vice Chair, a party leadership role. Party leaders focus more on setting their party’s legislative priorties than on introducing legislation.

Contact Sen. Mark Warner

I am a constituent..

I live in Virginia.

I have an opinion I want to share.

I want to urge Warner to take an action on a bill.

Visit Sen. Mark Warner’s website »

Look for a contact form on Sen. Mark Warner’s website to express your opinion.

I need help, have a question, or want to schedule a tour.

I’m having a problem with a government agency, need legal help, want to schedule a meeting or White House tour, or have another question.

Visit Warner’s Website »

Head over to Sen. Mark Warner’s website . If you are having a problem with a government agency, look for a contact link for casework to submit a request for help. Otherwise, look for a phone number on that website to call his office if you have a question.

I am not a constituent.

I live elsewhere.

Not all Members of Congress will accept messages from non-constituents. You can try your luck by visiting Warner’s website . Otherwise, try contacting your own senator:

Find Your Senator »

You are currently on the website GovTrack.us, which has no affiliation with Warner and is not a government website. Choose from the options above to find the right way to contact Warner.

Legislative Metrics

Read our 2022 Report Card for Warner .

Ideology–Leadership Chart

Warner is shown as a purple triangle ▲ in our ideology-leadership chart below. Each dot is a member of the Senate positioned according to our ideology score (left to right) and our leadership score (leaders are toward the top).

The chart is based on the bills Warner has sponsored and cosponsored from Jan 3, 2019 to Sep 18, 2024. See full analysis methodology .

Committee Membership

Mark Warner sits on the following committees:

• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chair
• National Security and International Trade and Finance subcommittee Chair
• Securities, Insurance, and Investment subcommittee Ranking Member
• Joint Committee on the Library
• Senate Committee on the Budget
• Senate Committee on Finance Health Care , International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness , Taxation and IRS Oversight subcommittees
• Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

Enacted Legislation

Warner was the primary sponsor of 19 bills that were enacted. The most recent include:

• S. 3244: Helping Seniors Lower Their Health Care Costs Act
• S. 1098 (117th): Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act
• S. 4295 (117th): Financial Data Transparency Act of 2022
• S. 2592 (116th): Virginia Beach Strong Act
• S. 734 (116th): IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019
• S. 841 (116th): Relocation Expense Parity Act
• S. 354 (116th): A bill to avoid duplicative annual reporting under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and for other purposes.

View All »

Does 19 not sound like a lot? Very few bills are ever enacted — most legislators sponsor only a handful that are signed into law. But there are other legislative activities that we don’t track that are also important, including offering amendments, committee work and oversight of the other branches, and constituent services.

We consider a bill enacted if one of the following is true: a) it is enacted itself, b) it has a companion bill in the other chamber (as identified by Congress) which was enacted, or c) if at least about half of its provisions were incorporated into bills that were enacted (as determined by an automated text analysis, applicable beginning with bills in the 110 th Congress).

Bills Sponsored

Issue areas.

Warner sponsors bills primarily in these issue areas:

Health (30%) Finance and Financial Sector (16%) Taxation (14%) Armed Forces and National Security (11%) Science, Technology, Communications (8%) Labor and Employment (8%) Commerce (7%) Government Operations and Politics (7%)

Recently Introduced Bills

Warner recently introduced the following legislation:

• S. 5022: A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located …
• S. 5028: A bill to require Federal contractors to implement a vulnerability disclosure policy consistent …
• S. 4799: Discount Window Enhancement Act of 2024
• S. 4778: Employer Participation in Repayment Act
• S. 4747: Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2024
• S. 4712: Global Strategy for Securing Critical Minerals Act of 2024
• S. 4443: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025

Most legislation has no activity after being introduced.

As Senate Democratic Conference Vice Chair, Warner may be focused on his responsibilities other than introducing legislation, such as setting the chamber’s agenda, uniting his party, and brokering deals.

Voting Record

Warner voted nay, warner voted yea, missed votes.

From Jan 2009 to Sep 2024, Warner missed 158 of 5,197 roll call votes, which is 3.0%. This is on par with the median of 2.9% among the lifetime records of senators currently serving. The chart below reports missed votes over time.

We don’t track why legislators miss votes, but it’s often due to medical absenses, major life events, and running for higher office.

Show the numbers...

Primary Sources

The information on this page is originally sourced from a variety of materials, including:

• unitedstates/congress-legislators , a community project gathering congressional information
• The House and Senate websites, for committee membership and voting records
• GPO Member Guide for the photo
• GovInfo.gov , for sponsored bills

Pronunciation Guide

Mark Warner is pronounced:

mahrk // WAWR-ner

The letters stand for sounds according to the following table:

Capital letters indicate a stressed syllable.

[error message]

Mobile Menu Overlay

The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

The White   House Announces Public Tours Will Resume A Full Operating   Schedule

The Biden-Harris Administration is pleased to announce public tours of the White House will resume a full operating schedule from Tuesdays through Saturdays beginning on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Public tours will be available from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted. All White House tours are free of charge. The White House tour schedule is subject to change based on inclement weather or official use Public White House Tour Requests

Public tour requests are scheduled on a first come, first served basis and must be submitted through a 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 Representative’s 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. Congressional Tour Coordinators will be able to submit tour requests for the full operating schedule on Monday, June 27, 2022. 

The White House will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation with guidance based on recommendations from the CDC, and other public health officials and medical experts, and reserves the right to adjust availability of the public tours as necessary to adhere to the latest health guidance. Within the 10 days prior to the public tour, anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, has had any COVID-19 symptoms, or been in close contact with someone confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, should stay home. Face masks will be available when entering the White House complex for those who choose to wear them.

Stay Connected

We'll be in touch with the latest information on how President Biden and his administration are working for the American people, as well as ways you can get involved and help our country build back better.

Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden.

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to this park navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to this park information section
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Alerts in effect, white house visitor center.

Last updated: June 5, 2023

Park footer

Contact info, mailing address:.

1849 C Street NW Room 1426 Washington, DC 20240

202 208-1631

Stay Connected

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

White House tours are back!

Vanessa Romo

White House tours are once again open to the public, offering people a glimpse into the East Wing of the first family's temporary home, including the Blue Room, Red Room and Green Room; the State Dining Room; the China Room; and a view of the White House Rose Garden. Ron Edmonds/AP hide caption

White House tours are once again open to the public, offering people a glimpse into the East Wing of the first family's temporary home, including the Blue Room, Red Room and Green Room; the State Dining Room; the China Room; and a view of the White House Rose Garden.

There's great news for curious lookie-loos: Public tours of the White House have resumed.

Officials announced that the free tours will initially be available from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, excluding federal holidays. Rules for visiting the presidential work-live manse remain the same. According to the White House:

Public tour requests are scheduled on a first come, first served basis and must be submitted through a 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 Representative's Switchboard at 202-225-3121, the U.S. Senate Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or online at www.congress.gov/members .

Would-be visitors will also have to get the timing just right. Requests must be submitted 21 days to three months in advance of the desired visit.

The People's House has been periodically closed to the public through part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, those who are lucky enough to book a slot can get an IRL look into several rooms in the East Wing of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, including the Blue Room, Red Room and Green Room; the State Dining Room; the China Room; and a view of the White House Rose Garden.

The Secret Service can also be a part of the experience. In addition to keeping an eye on the valuables, it's available to answer questions about the history and architecture of each room.

Here's a bit of what visitors can expect to see:

President Barack Obama looks at a portrait of President John Adams while waiting in the White House's Blue Room prior to a news conference in the East Room on Feb. 9, 2009. The White House/Getty Images hide caption

President Barack Obama looks at a portrait of President John Adams while waiting in the White House's Blue Room prior to a news conference in the East Room on Feb. 9, 2009.

The Blue Room wasn't a thing until 1837, when President Martin Van Buren — the eighth president of the U.S. — introduced the color blue into the decorating scheme.

Before that, there had been a bit of a kerfuffle over how the large oval room, which later became the inspiration for the design of the Oval Office, should be decorated.

Apparently, President James Monroe wanted to deck out the room in a French Empire style and placed an order for a suite of French mahogany furniture through the American firm Russell and La Farge, with offices in Le Havre, France, according to White House records.

"However, the firm shipped gilded furniture instead, asserting that 'mahogany is not generally admitted into the furniture of a Salon, even at private gentlemen's houses.' "

Refreshed wall fabric brightens the Red Room in September 2019. Patrick Semansky/AP hide caption

Refreshed wall fabric brightens the Red Room in September 2019.

The Red Room was mostly yellow until 1845, when President James K. Polk and first lady Sarah Polk added red- and green-covered rocking chairs, ottomans, armchairs and lounges. That's when it went from being called the Washington Parlor to the Red Room.

In March 1877, it became the scene of President-elect Rutherford B. Hayes' historic swearing-in, which in some ways paralleled the Electoral College vote count of Jan. 6, 2021.

The White House Historical Association states on its website:

"Political tensions ran high after his bitterly contested election over Samuel J. Tilden, so Hayes secretly took the Oath of Office at the White House. Inauguration Day fell on a Sunday that year, and this swearing-in avoided a 24-hour delay in the transfer of power and any perceived danger of a coup."

Paintings of past presidents adorn the walls as a crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling of the Green Room on Jan. 21, 1963. AP hide caption

Paintings of past presidents adorn the walls as a crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling of the Green Room on Jan. 21, 1963.

John Quincy Adams, the United States' sixth president, came up with the idea of calling this room the Green Drawing Room sometime between 1825 and 1829, according to the White House.

"The inspiration for the name may have come from Thomas Jefferson's use of the space as a dining room, when he covered the floor with a green-colored canvas for protection."

During its most recent renovation, then-first lady Melania Trump added a portrait of former first lady Edith Roosevelt, wife of President Theodore Roosevelt.

State Dining Room

President Biden speaks about the January jobs reports during an event in the State Dining Room on Feb. 4. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

President Biden speaks about the January jobs reports during an event in the State Dining Room on Feb. 4.

The State Dining Room has been through some wild makeovers, growing from an intimate space to a cavernous hall that can seat up to 140 guests.

While today's version, most recently revamped by then-first lady Michelle Obama, is calming and elegant, with ivory walls and a muted blue rug, earlier versions included intricate wall paintings and walls in "many shades and textures of yellow and highlighted in silver," according to the White House Historical Association.

President Theodore Roosevelt expanded the dining room and added some personal touches that were very on-brand for the outdoorsman: He hung "a large moose head above the fireplace and placed other game trophies on the natural oak panels," states the association's website.

The Truman china set is displayed on a table in the White House's China Room. This set, selected by first lady Bess Truman in 1951, is the first state china service to feature the presidential coat of arms as redesigned by President Harry Truman in 1945. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

The Truman china set is displayed on a table in the White House's China Room. This set, selected by first lady Bess Truman in 1951, is the first state china service to feature the presidential coat of arms as redesigned by President Harry Truman in 1945.

This room is entirely dedicated to holding and displaying china used by dozens of U.S. presidents. It was first called the Presidential Collection Room, but in 1917, Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, President Woodrow Wilson's second wife, decided to display the growing collection of White House china throughout the room.

The Associated Press reported that first lady Mamie Eisenhower "was instrumental in locating the personal china of Presidents Johnson, Taft, Harding, Coolidge and Hoover to complete the collection."

White House Rose Garden

Tulips add an annual burst of color during spring in the White House Rose Garden. J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press hide caption

Tulips add an annual burst of color during spring in the White House Rose Garden.

Yes, it's called the Rose Garden, but countless other blooms are to be found, depending on the season.

While the garden was established in 1913, it was President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy who in 1961 decided to breathe new life into the space.

The White House Historical Association states that the couple was inspired after a state visit to France, England and Austria: "The President had noted that the White House had no garden equal in quality or attractiveness to the gardens that he had seen and in which he had been entertained in Europe. There he had recognized the importance of gardens surrounding an official residence and their appeal to the sensibilities of all people."

• White House

White House Tour for Kids

Having lived in Washington, DC for over a decade, a tour of the White House is something that has always been “on the list” of things to do, but not something we have actually gotten around to doing. I decided earlier this year that it was an opportunity we should not pass up and decided to look into the process of arranging a tour of the White House.  Even though there was a lot of waiting up front, I highly recommend a White House tour for kids visiting Washington DC.

White House Tour Tickets

The President’s Park , or The White House, is generally available for public touring Tuesdays through Saturdays, excluding holidays. Tours are self-guided, and although the White House is maintained by the National Park Service, the National Park Service does not operate tours.  For US citizens and legal residents, tours can be requested via your member of Congress. Citizens of foreign countries can request tours via their embassy in Washington, DC. Tours are pre-scheduled, and the NPS website warns that visitors should request tickets well in advance of their scheduled trip to Washington, DC.

I requested our tickets for a White House tour through Senator Mark Warner’s website . Although the procedure may vary depending on which member of Congress you’re requesting tickets from, Mark Warner’s website was easy to understand and very thorough. Individuals are permitted to submit three different dates that fall between three weeks and three months of the date of request and instructions were clearly spelled out on the website. Almost immediately after I submitted my request (group size, email address, tour dates), I received a confirmation email stating that my request had been received and that I would receive further correspondence from the White House.

My request for a White House tour was submitted to Mark Warner’s website on January 26 and three days later, on January 29, I received an email from the White House indicating that my request had been received. The email requested additional information, including the full names, dates of birth, and social security numbers for all individuals seeking to participate in the tour. The deadline to submit the information was February 2, one week from the date of the email and the email clearly indicated that the tour was not yet confirmed and that any confirmation of a tour would come 2-3 weeks prior to the requested tour date.

Now, I actually managed to completely forget about the White House tour and that we had requested a tour on certain dates. I had originally put down three dates and neglected to mark them on my calendar. On March 2, one month after the registration deadline for submitting names and background security check information, I received an email from the White House Visitor’s office saying our tour was confirmed! We were given a date and time and instructions regarding what was permitted and what was not permitted.

White House Tour Rules 

On the day of the tour, we arrived early and simply found street parking. We walked over to the White House, passing by the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is occupied by the Executive Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President, on our way over. The EEOB is a beautiful building and I always find it to be impressive.

As per the email instructions, we found our way to the entrance located at the intersection of 15th Street NW and Alexander Hamilton Place NW but we were dismayed to find an extremely long line. We waited at the back of the line for a little bit, before rumors indicated that visitors who had a 12:30 tour (which we did), were able to  enter the complex.  We decided to walk up to the front of the line and check and yes! Lo and behold, those with a 12:30 tour time were permitted to enter (it was 12:30 when we got into the outside line), so we quickly entered the complex where we found… another line.

I won’t lie, the lines were long and onerous…. but, they weren’t as long and onerous as I thought they would be. From the time we entered the complex to when we entered the actual White House, we waited in three lines for a total time of about one hour. Although my three year old did not love waiting in line, at least the weather, although chilly, was relatively warm for winter in DC.

Multiple signs indicating working canines and yes, we saw many in action!

Once we were inside the White House, wee were a bit surprised to find that it was truly a self-guided tour. We were free to walk and browse at our own pace, and there were Secret Service members littered about, ready to engage and answer questions. They were surprisingly friendly and full of information. One member, when asked about the rolled back carpets, said that the carpets are rolled up for tours but that otherwise, the carpets are unfurled, the ropes (closing off entry to the rooms) are open, and people are free to enter and use the rooms as they see fit. She also mentioned that just a few days prior, the entire hall of rooms had been open for a St. Patrick’s Day party and that there were upwards of 300+ guests milling about the White House.

The White House Rooms

Upon entry, we walked the halls of the downstairs, where we saw photo montages from past and present. The view of the back yard was spectacular.

It was St. Patrick’s Day after all!

The truly beautiful rooms, however, were upstairs… I absolutely loved seeing the State dining room, which was much smaller than I expected, and the character of each individual room was lovely to admire.

I loved seeing the State dining room, which was MUCH SMALLER than I expected!

Per the guards, the rooms that are available for touring change, depending on the needs of the building. Presumably, returning visitors might see something different each time. Although, I’m almost certain the tour begins downstairs, and all visitors get to see the photo montages and the view of the yard.

As we exited the building, I turned around to admire the exterior architectural details, which were much more intricate than I expected. I also noticed that we walked past the Treasury Building, which, along with the EEOB, flanks the White House.

Final Thoughts:

• I would absolutely visit the White House if given the opportunity and if you know you’re coming to DC, you should put in a tour request well in advance.
• Don’t worry about what you’re wearing – there were people there in ties and people in yoga pants and/or sweats. No one blinked an eye.
• I was there with my rather rambunctious three year old and none of the guards blinked an eye. I’m pretty sure they’ve seen it all, so don’t worry about bringing kids provided you can keep them from truly running amok.
• As I’ve mentioned before , the White House is conveniently located nearly right across the street from the Renwick Gallery, so this is a great opportunity to double up on DC activities without having to travel too far.

Walking past the Renwick on our way back to the car.

Be sure to check out our entire category of posts on things to do and places to visit in Washington, DC  with kids! We are so lucky to call this place home and hope that our tips and tricks come in handy as you plan your own adventure in Washington, DC!

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Nancy Canter

Immi go car seat review, fun family hidden gems in florida, you may also like, things to do in kauai with kids, review of captain andy’s na pali coast, review of courtyard coconut beach in kauai, costa rica rental car insurance and vamos review, 10 best travel books for kids, we go with kids wins the liebster award, ridesafer travel vest review, spotlight: la zoo with kids, fall getaway: visiting shenandoah national park with kids, blogiversary.

I never really put much thought into visiting such places, especially with children (I don’t have any of my own) so I think it’s great that you show that people shouldn’t shy away from these experiences just because they think their children might be too young to enjoy it. I do have to say though the library was my favorite photo and I probably would have just stayed there for the entire tour.

I think the ultimate test for a good visit has been met when a three year old at nap time is still interested. A fascinating insight into an iconic building but on a human scale. Catherine’s Palace in St Petersburg is also surprisingly approachable,and I get entirely what you say about the rooms of state being smaller than expected.

By leaving a reply, you consent to the storage and handling of your data by this website... Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Take Our Quiz »

Find the best country for you: ».

Tourists Can Finally Visit the Oval Office. A Replica Is Opening Near the White House on Monday

A new tourist stop in Washington is offering visitors the next best thing to being in the Oval Office

Jose Luis Magana

White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin tour members of the media in a replica of the Oval Office as is today, shown at The People's House exhibit, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington is getting a new tourist stop that offers visitors the next best thing to being in the Oval Office: an identical replica of President Joe Biden 's office, right down to his desk, the armchairs in front of the fireplace and the weathered family Bible resting on a side table.

And when Biden's successor takes office next year, the full-scale replica Oval Office at “ The People's House: A White House Experience " will be redecorated to look exactly like the new president's office, said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association , which is opening the doors of its technology-driven education center to the public on Monday.

A separate space in the center called the “Immersive Theater” uses technology to transform into some of the more notable rooms in the White House every five minutes.

“A terrific thing about this Oval Office, unlike the current Oval Office, is if you’re visiting us you can come and you can sit in this chair and be the president of the United States," McLaurin said, talking about the desk chair as he led The Associated Press on a tour of the center before Monday's opening.

Few people ever set foot in the Oval Office. It is not on the White House public tour route. But at “The People’s House,” not only will visitors get to see what one of the most famous offices in the world looks like, they can experience it, too.

“You can take a call from Mr. Putin or anybody you’d like to receive a call from, have your photo taken there,” McLaurin said. "You can sit on the sofas or in the president's chair as you’ve visualized him sitting there and you see him on the news talking with a visitor or a head of state. You can do the same thing right there in front of the fireplace.”

The wallpaper, draperies, rug, furniture, paintings and other artwork are exact replicas of the furnishings as they are currently in the Oval Office. The plan is to change the decor with each future president.

“It is exactly like President Biden's, exactly,” McLaurin said. “Even the family Bible with the weathered elements are duplicated.”

Except for the “digital column” in the center of the room that shows visitors how the physical office has evolved throughout the presidency. It also turns into a mirror so visitors can see themselves standing in the Oval Office.

Technology is also used to transform the “Immersive Theater” every five minutes into each of the five rooms on the White House State Floor: the East Room, the Red, Blue and Green Rooms, and the State Dining Room. Images on the walls in each room were chosen by the association's historians. Visitors can touch the walls to unlock information about the art, furniture or other history that happened there.

"We want people to feel they are in that room of the White House,” McLaurin said.

Leaving the theater, visitors will walk to the replica Oval Office along a stone path resembling the White House colonnade with a view of art made to represent the Rose Garden.

Another exhibit shows how presidents use the White House for work, family and social functions. Visitors can attend Cabinet meetings and vote on a course of action for the president, sit at a table set as it would be for a state dinner to learn how presidents use these glitzy events to conduct diplomacy, or settle into a seat in the family movie theater.

In a separate gallery, the head groundskeeper, florist, lead military aide and chief usher are among White House staff members featured on video explaining what they do.

After entering the education center, visitors will come upon a large model of the south side of the White House, listen to an audio greeting from first lady Jill Biden and watch an orientation film narrated by Martin Sheen, who played a president on television's “The West Wing.”

The back side of the model looks like a dollhouse, exposing cutaways of the ground, state and residence floor rooms. Visitors can tap electronic kiosks to learn more about the rooms.

The education center covers three floors of an office building at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave., one block from the White House. Technology is used throughout to help teach the history of the executive mansion, the presidents and the families who have lived there, and the staff whose work keeps it functioning in its multiples roles as a workplace, a residence and a museum.

McLaurin said the center was designed to be an enhancement to the White House public tour, not a replacement. But with White House tour tickets hard to get, he expects “the vast majority of the people who have the opportunity to visit here will not have the privilege to visit the White House itself.”

Jill Biden visited twice during construction and has planned an event on the White House lawn on Saturday to celebrate next week's opening.

“This new immersive education center will take visitors on an incredible journey using technology and innovation to bring White House history to life,” said the first lady, a community college professor. “Especially as an educator, I'm so excited to see it opening to the public.”

Admission is free , but visitors must request timed tickets. The association is planning for 800 visitors every day, with most staying a little over an hour.

The association raised $60 million for construction and initial operating costs, and is working to build a $50 million endowment to sustain operations, McLaurin said.

The White House Historical Association was created in 1961 by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to help preserve the museum quality of the interior of the White House and educate the public. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that receives no government funding. It raises money mostly through private donations and merchandise sales, including an annual Christmas ornament.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Photos You Should See - Sept. 2024

Join the Conversation

Tags: Associated Press , politics , Washington, D.C.

America 2024

U.S. News Decision Points

Your trusted source for the latest news delivered weekdays from the team at U.S. News and World Report.

Sign in to manage your newsletters »

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

You May Also Like

The 10 worst presidents.

U.S. News Staff Feb. 23, 2024

The Best Cartoons on Donald Trump

Sept. 20, 2024, at 1:46 p.m.

Joe Biden Behind The Scenes

Aug. 20, 2024

Harris, Trump: Weekly Campaign Catch Up

Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder Sept. 20, 2024

Mark Robinson Shockwaves, Explained

Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder Sept. 19, 2024

Teamsters Won’t Endorse: Why it Matters

Laura Mannweiler Sept. 19, 2024

Biden Touts His Economic Record

Tim Smart Sept. 19, 2024

The JD Vance Before JD Vance

Frederic J. Frommer Sept. 19, 2024

What to Know: Lebanon Pager Explosions

Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder Sept. 18, 2024

The Shutdown Standoff, Explained

Laura Mannweiler Sept. 18, 2024

Visiting the White House with Children and Teens

A surefire way to get your kids and teens excited about American history is to plan a family or class visit to the White House. Here are some suggestions to make the visit pleasurable and interesting.

• Plan Ahead • Set a Date for Your Visit • Information You Need for Your Visitor Request • The Day of Your White House Visit • Preparing the Young People in Your Life for a Visit to the White House • Resources

In our post-9/11 increased-security world, visiting the White House cannot be a spontaneous decision. Any member of the general public can tour the White House, but you must prepare in advance and make a formal request to visit the house. Public tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted). Tour hours will be extended when possible based on the official White House schedule. Tours are scheduled for groups of ten or more people. Here are the steps you need to take to ensure a successful White House visit.

Set a Date for Your Visit

If you want to make a tour of the White House a part of your vacation or visit to Washington, D.C., you must choose the date of your visit and get your request in at least a month before that date. Requests are accepted up to six months in advance. You are encouraged to submit your request as early as possible because a limited number of tours is available.

Requests must be submitted through your Congressional representative—your local Congress person or one of the senators from your home state. Some representatives have online request forms; others do not. You must contact your Congressional representatives to find out what their particular office requires before you send in your request.

To locate your senators and their contact information, visit the Senate.gov website .

To find your Congressional representative and his or her contact information, you must first look up your four-digit zip code extension, which you can do using the zip4.usps.com website . Then, using that zip code information, go to the House of Representatives website .

Or, once you know who your representative and senators are, visit their individual websites to obtain their contact information.

There are no fees or admission charges to visit the White House or the White House Visitor Center. Visits are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. All visitors should call the 24-hour Visitor Center information line at 202-456-7041 to determine if any last-minute changes have been made in the tour schedule as events can alter White House accessibility.

Information You Need for Your Visitor Request

Everyone who visits the White House must have clearance from the United States Secret Service.

If your party alone does not make a group of ten, request to be matched up with another small party of visitors. The person requesting the visit should specify in the request all personal contact information including address, phone number, and fax and email address if pertinent. You should be notified approximately one month before the requested date.

In your visitor request you must list the name and date of birth for any person who is under the age of eighteen by the date of your visit. For those in your party who are over eighteen years of age, you must list their names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and countries of citizenship. The National Park Service states that this security information must be received by the office through which tickets are obtained no later than five business days prior to the tour date. Groups without security information will be cancelled.

Note in your request if any of your party is hearing, visually, or mobility impaired. Tours for hearing-impaired groups of ten or more may be requested through one’s member of Congress. The Visitor Center TDD (telephone device for the deaf) is 202-456-2121. Tours for visually-impaired groups of ten or more may be requested through one’s member of Congress. Guide animals are permitted in the White House.

Know that for a wide variety of reasons, White House tours can be cancelled at any time. For the most current tour information, please call the 24-hour line at 202-456-7041.

The Day of Your White House Visit

Plan to get to the Presidential Park at least fifteen minutes beforehand if you are touring the building. You and your family will enter the White House by the south side of East Executive Avenue near the Southeast Gate. National Park Service rangers and volunteers are posted at the corner of 15th and E Streets to assist you. For directions to the White House, parking information, travel information—and everything else related to a White House visit—go to the National Park Service website .

We suggest that you arrive about an hour before you visit so that you and your family or students can stop at the White House Visitor Center to see the exhibits and watch a video of the White House. You can also go there after your visit. The White House Visitor Center, located at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is open from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily (except January 1, Thanksgiving, and December 25). Admission is free.

“At the White House Visitor Center, you can explore an interactive touchscreen tour of the White House, view over 90 artifacts from the White House collection, shop at the White House Historical Association retail store, and view the 14-minute film, ‘White House: Reflections From Within.’ Visit the information desk to inquire about special ranger programs and events at President’s Park.” There are also public restrooms at the center. For information about the White House Visitor Center, go to WhiteHouseHistory.org .

All guests 18 years of age or older will be required to present a valid, government-issued photo identification (detailed below). All foreign nationals must present their passport. All other forms of foreign identification will not be accepted. All information submitted (e.g. name, date of birth, city, etc.) must exactly match the government-issued photo ID you will present when arriving at the White House.

The following forms of photo ID are acceptable for presentation to U.S. Secret Service upon entry to the White House complex:

• Valid government-issued United States identification card (e.g. drivers license, military ID, etc.)

• Valid United States or other official government-issued passports

No other forms of identification will be accepted; photocopies, expired IDs, or other transmissions of these documents are NOT valid. Individuals whose identification does not exactly match the name or date cleared will be denied entry to the White House.

You cannot take the following items on the White House tour: video recorders; handbags, book bags, backpacks, or purses; food or beverages; tobacco products; personal grooming items (i.e. makeup, lotion, etc.); strollers; any pointed objects; aerosol containers; guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or knives of any size.

The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items. Umbrellas, wallets, car keys, and cell phones (including those with cameras) are permitted. However, guests will not be allowed to use cell phones inside the White House. Phones used inside the White House may be confiscated by U.S. Secret Service.

Please note that video cameras, including any action camcorders, cameras with detachable lenses, tablets, tripods, monopods, and camera sticks are not permitted. Flash photography, live streaming, and talking or texting on cellular phones are not permitted while on the tour.

As of July 1, 2015, smartphones and compact cameras with a lens no longer than 3 inches (stills only) are permitted on the public tour route as long as their use does not interfere with other guests’ enjoyment of the tour.

Please note that no storage facilities are available on or around the complex. Individuals who arrive with prohibited items will not be permitted to enter the White House.

Scheduled visitors who require the loan of a wheelchair should notify the officer at the Visitors Entrance upon arrival. Unfortunately, wheelchair reservations are not possible. Visitors in wheelchairs, or with other mobility disabilities, use the same Visitors Entrance and are escorted by ramp from the entrance level to the Ground floor, and by the elevator from the Ground floor to the State floor.

Parking: The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines), Metro Center (blue, orange, and red lines) and McPherson Square (blue and orange lines). On-street parking is not available near the White House, and use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.

Restrooms: The nearest restrooms to the White House are in the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (the park area south of the White House). Restrooms and public telephones are not available at the White House.

Preparing the Young People in Your Life for a Visit to the White House

Read and share the Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out book and website with your kids and teens before you visit our White House. And be sure to look through and share other books and websites about the White House, the presidents, the first ladies, their families, pets, and staff before you visit Washington. You will find many great book and website suggestions in our bibliography “ Presidents, the President’s House, and More: A Select List of Books for Young People .”

After sharing a book or two with young people, ask them what they think the White House is—is it a home; a museum; a place of work? You might also look at pictures in books that show the exterior of the house and the public rooms—and pick out details of interest that your children and students can find on their tour. For fun, make up a White House scavenger hunt checklist of items that interest you and the young person, including furniture details, presidential portraits, paintings, architectural details, etc., and after your visit see how many of those details you saw on your tour.

Before you go you and your kids can take a virtual tour of the White House on the White House website WhiteHouse.gov .

Whatever the age of your children or students, take a moment and talk to them about your expectations for the visit. Talk to them about appropriate behavior and conversation at the White House. Sometimes it helps to compare and contrast behaviors for various kinds of situations. For example, you might say that it is appropriate to yell and shout at a baseball or basketball game, but in someone’s home, like the president’s home, that is not acceptable behavior. Let them know it is all right to ask questions during the tour. And let them know that they need to follow rules and directions.

If you plan your trip in advance and prepare your family or students for the visit, you will all have a great time at our White House!

Websites that will help you plan your trip:

• Tours and event information on the White House website: WhiteHouse.gov/participate/tours-and-events
• White House tour information on the National Park Service website:  nps.gov/whho/planyourvisit/the-white-house-tour.htm

Additional White House educational information and materials are available on the White House History website: WhiteHouseHistory.org/teacher-resources

©2016 Mary Brigid Barrett; The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance

Replica Oval Office is opening near the White House on Monday

A new tourist stop in Washington is offering visitors the next best thing to being in the Oval Office

WASHINGTON -- Washington is getting a new tourist stop that offers visitors the next best thing to being in the Oval Office: an identical replica of President Joe Biden 's office, right down to his desk, the armchairs in front of the fireplace and the weathered family Bible resting on a side table.

And when Biden's successor takes office next year, the full-scale replica Oval Office at “ The People's House: A White House Experience " will be redecorated to look exactly like the new president's office, said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association , which is opening the doors of its technology-driven education center to the public on Monday.

A separate space in the center called the “Immersive Theater” uses technology to transform into some of the more notable rooms in the White House every five minutes.

“A terrific thing about this Oval Office, unlike the current Oval Office, is if you’re visiting us you can come and you can sit in this chair and be the president of the United States," McLaurin said, talking about the desk chair as he led The Associated Press on a tour of the center before Monday's opening.

Few people ever set foot in the Oval Office. It is not on the White House public tour route. But at “The People’s House,” not only will visitors get to see what one of the most famous offices in the world looks like, they can experience it, too.

“You can take a call from Mr. Putin or anybody you’d like to receive a call from, have your photo taken there,” McLaurin said. "You can sit on the sofas or in the president's chair as you’ve visualized him sitting there and you see him on the news talking with a visitor or a head of state. You can do the same thing right there in front of the fireplace.”

The wallpaper, draperies, rug, furniture, paintings and other artwork are exact replicas of the furnishings as they are currently in the Oval Office. The plan is to change the decor with each future president.

“It is exactly like President Biden's, exactly,” McLaurin said. “Even the family Bible with the weathered elements are duplicated.”

Except for the “digital column” in the center of the room that shows visitors how the physical office has evolved throughout the presidency. It also turns into a mirror so visitors can see themselves standing in the Oval Office.

Technology is also used to transform the “Immersive Theater” every five minutes into each of the five rooms on the White House State Floor: the East Room, the Red, Blue and Green Rooms, and the State Dining Room. Images on the walls in each room were chosen by the association's historians. Visitors can touch the walls to unlock information about the art, furniture or other history that happened there.

"We want people to feel they are in that room of the White House,” McLaurin said.

Leaving the theater, visitors will walk to the replica Oval Office along a stone path resembling the White House colonnade with a view of art made to represent the Rose Garden.

Another exhibit shows how presidents use the White House for work, family and social functions. Visitors can attend Cabinet meetings and vote on a course of action for the president, sit at a table set as it would be for a state dinner to learn how presidents use these glitzy events to conduct diplomacy, or settle into a seat in the family movie theater.

In a separate gallery, the head groundskeeper, florist, lead military aide and chief usher are among White House staff members featured on video explaining what they do.

After entering the education center, visitors will come upon a large model of the south side of the White House, listen to an audio greeting from first lady Jill Biden and watch an orientation film narrated by Martin Sheen, who played a president on television's “The West Wing.”

The back side of the model looks like a dollhouse, exposing cutaways of the ground, state and residence floor rooms. Visitors can tap electronic kiosks to learn more about the rooms.

The education center covers three floors of an office building at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave., one block from the White House. Technology is used throughout to help teach the history of the executive mansion, the presidents and the families who have lived there, and the staff whose work keeps it functioning in its multiples roles as a workplace, a residence and a museum.

McLaurin said the center was designed to be an enhancement to the White House public tour, not a replacement. But with White House tour tickets hard to get, he expects “the vast majority of the people who have the opportunity to visit here will not have the privilege to visit the White House itself.”

Jill Biden visited twice during construction and has planned an event on the White House lawn on Saturday to celebrate next week's opening.

“This new immersive education center will take visitors on an incredible journey using technology and innovation to bring White House history to life,” said the first lady, a community college professor. “Especially as an educator, I'm so excited to see it opening to the public.”

Admission is free , but visitors must request timed tickets. The association is planning for 800 visitors every day, with most staying a little over an hour.

The association raised $60 million for construction and initial operating costs, and is working to build a $50 million endowment to sustain operations, McLaurin said.

The White House Historical Association was created in 1961 by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to help preserve the museum quality of the interior of the White House and educate the public. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that receives no government funding. It raises money mostly through private donations and merchandise sales, including an annual Christmas ornament.

Popular Reads

How investigators unraveled death of Alaska doctor

• Sep 20, 6:04 AM

Nearly 140K beds recalled over breakage concerns

• Sep 19, 1:16 PM

What to know about state of coffee prices

• Sep 19, 1:44 PM

Genius storage tip for leftover cake

• Sep 20, 5:06 AM

Man says he lied in testimony against inmate

• Sep 19, 12:48 PM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

• Visit Our Blog about Russia to know more about Russian sights, history
• Check out our Russian cities and regions guides
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to better understand Russia
• Info about getting Russian visa , the main airports , how to rent an apartment
• Our Expert answers your questions about Russia, some tips about sending flowers

Russian regions

• Amur oblast
• Buryat republic
• Chukotka okrug
• Jewish autonomous oblast
• Kamchatka krai
• Khabarovsk krai
• Magadan oblast
• Primorye krai
• Sakha republic
• Sakhalin oblast
• Zabaikalsky krai
• Map of Russia
• All cities and regions
• Blog about Russia
• News from Russia
• How to get a visa
• Flights to Russia
• Russian hotels
• Renting apartments
• Russian currency
• FIFA World Cup 2018
• Submit an article
• Flowers to Russia
• Ask our Expert

Primorsky Krai, Russia

The capital city of Primorye krai: Vladivostok .

Primorsky Krai - Overview

Primorsky Krai (informally Primorye ) is a federal subject of Russia located in the south-eastern part of the country, in the south of the Far East, part of the Far Eastern Federal District. Vladivostok is the capital city of the region.

The population of Primorsky Krai is about 1,863,000 (2022), the area - 164,673 sq. km.

Primorye krai flag

Primorye krai coat of arms.

Primorye krai map, Russia

Primorye krai latest news and posts from our blog:.

20 September, 2017 / Vladivostok - the view from above .

23 July, 2015 / Gamov lighthouse - the easternmost lighthouse in Russia .

24 February, 2014 / Abandoned shelter-base for Soviet submarines .

11 September, 2012 / These tanks are not afraid to go under the water .

28 April, 2012 / First demonstration flights of new Russian combat helicopters .

More posts..

News, notes and thoughts:

18 August, 2011   / A shark attacked a 16-year-old youth in Russia's Primorye region, officials said, a day after a man lost his hands in a similar shark attack unprecedented for the region. What is wrong with the sharks all over the world?

9 January, 2011   / A bear apparently wounded by hunters broke into a school in the Primorye Territory in Russia's Far East, police said Sunday. Yeah, bears walking the streets of Russian cities.

History of Primorsky Krai

The first people settled in the region more than 30 thousand years ago. According to ancient legends, the coastal line was densely inhabited. In the Middle Ages, there were three empires on the territory of Primorye, which successively replaced each other: Bohai (698-926), Jin (1115-1234), Eastern Xia (1215-1233).

In the early 13th century, the territory of East Asia suffered the Mongol invasion. This led to the fall of the empire of Jin, but some provinces in the east preserved independence and formed an independent state known as Eastern Xia. In 1233, after another invasion this state ceased to exist too.

After that, the region was in ruins and attracted people persecuted in surrounding countries (bandits, adventurers, political dissidents). The first documented Russian presence in the region dates back to the summer of 1655, when the northern Primorye was visited by Russian Cossacks under the command of Onuphrius Stepanov.

In the middle of the 19th century, the Russian Empire began to strengthen its position in the north-west coast of the Pacific Ocean. In 1856, Primorskaya oblast was formed from the coastal parts of Eastern Siberia and Kamchatka. The territory of present Primorye was incorporated into the Russian state on the basis of Aigun (1858) and Beijing (1860) peace treaties that legalized the border between Russia and China.

More historical facts…

Since then, the southern part of Primorye took its current shape. In 1860, Vladivostok was founded as a military post. Russian migration in the region began. In 1899, the Oriental Institute was opened in Vladivostok - the first higher educational institution in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, and one of the oldest in East Asia.

Further strengthening of Russian positions in the Far East was limited by the small size of the Russian population and remoteness from populated parts of the empire. Regular communication between St. Petersburg and Vladivostok was established after the completion of the Trans-Siberian Railway in 1903.

From 1861 to 1917, about 250,000 peasants arrived in Primorye and founded 342 settlements. In 1917, the population of Primorye amounted to 307,000 people. By the mid-1920s, the local population reached 600,000 people. In the 1930s, forced industrialization and collectivization began which led to another wave of migration. The migration was both voluntary and forced (prisoners).

In 1937-1938, about 200,000 people of Korean and Chinese nationalities were forcibly deported from the region. Until the end of the 1980s, as a result of ethnic deportations, the Chinese and Koreans disappeared from the national composition of the population of Primorye.

In the summer of 1938, on the southern boundary of Primorye, in the area of Lake Khasan, there were military clashes between Manchukuo (a puppet state under Japanese control) and the Soviet Union. After two weeks of fighting, the USSR was able to repel the aggression. On October 20, 1938, Primorsky Krai with the capital in Vladivostok was formed.

After the end of the Second World War, Primorsky Krai continued to develop as a major industrial and agricultural region of the Far East also specializing in the extraction of natural resources. Rail and sea transport played a significant role in the local economy. Migration from the European part of Russia and Siberia continued, which led to an increase of population of the region from 1,381,000 people in 1959 to 1,978,000 in 1979.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the region’s economy went into decline, reverse migration in the European part of Russia began. At the beginning of the 21st century, the social and economic situation in Primorsky Krai improved.

Beautiful nature of Primorsky Krai

On the coast in Primorsky Krai

Author: Andrej Serbskij

Hilly landscape of Primorsky Krai

Author: Kazakov Igor

Primorye scenery

Author: Viktor Koblov

Primorsky Krai - Features

Primorsky Krai is located in the south of the Far East, in the south-eastern part of the Russian Federation. It is bordered by Khabarovsk Krai in the north, China in the west, North Korea in the south-west, and is washed by the Japan Sea in the south and east. The largest cities are Vladivostok (601,300), Ussuriysk (172,000), Nakhodka (140,200), Artyom (104,500).

The maximum length of Primorsky Krai (from the mouth of the Tumannaya River to the source of the Samarga River) is about 900 km, the maximum width (from the valley of the Ussuri River to the coast of the Sea of Japan) - about 280 km. The highest peak is Mount Anik (1,933 meters) located in the north-easton of the region, near the border with Khabarovsk krai.

The climate of Primorye is temperate monsoon. Winters are dry and cold with sunny weather; springs are long, cool, with frequent changes of temperature; summers are warm and humid; autumns as a rule are warm and dry.

The main peculiarity - lots of precipitation and fog in summer. Summer is the period of typhoons. The average temperature in July is about plus 17-21 degrees Celsius, in January - minus 8-23 degrees Celsius.

Primorsky Krai - Economy

A number of large and unique deposits of various minerals have been discovered in Primorye. This region has the most powerful mining industry in the Far East of Russia. There are about 100 coal deposits (2.4 billion tons), 30 deposits of tin, 15 deposits of complex ores containing zinc, lead, copper, and silver. Gold deposits are located both in the south of the region and in the north.

The largest in Russia deposit of boron is located near the town of Dalnegorsk. Several phosphorite deposits are discovered on the shelf of the Sea of Japan. There are also several small oil fields, large deposits of germanium. Mountain rivers have significant hydropower potential. Diverse forests cover about 80% of the territory.

Primorsky Krai is the most developed region in the Russian Far East due to its favorable geographic location and abundance of various natural resources. The local economy is based on such industries as mining, timber, fisheries, trade, shipbuilding and repairing.

Primorye has a relatively well-developed transportation network. The main traffic artery is the eastern section of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Due to its proximity to Japan and the Republic of Korea (imports of relatively cheap used cars), Primorsky Krai occupies the first place in Russia in the number of vehicles in the population.

The seaports of Primorsky Krai play an important role in the economy of Russia. The largest container terminals in the Russian Far East are located here. Regional and international air flights are carried out from Vladivostok International Airport.

Attractions of Primorsky Krai

Primorsky Krai is known for its rich flora and fauna, the variety of landscapes, the warm sea in the south, springs with healing water. All this creates favorable conditions for tourism development.

In Primorye, there are more than 500 unique natural sites (lakes, waterfalls, ancient extinct volcanoes, caves, bays). There are six nature reserves and three national parks:

• Far East Marine Reserve in the Gulf of Peter the Great,
• “Kedrovaya Pad” Reserve,
• Lazovsky Reserve,
• Sikhote-Alin Reserve included in the UNESCO World Heritage List,
• Ussuri Nature Reserve,
• Khanka Reserve,
• “The Call of the Tiger”,
• “Udege Legend”,
• “The Land of the Leopard”.

The following places of interest are also noteworthy:

• The Rope Park in Andreevka - a sports-tourist trail that includes elements of sports tourism and mountaineering,
• Shanduyskie lakes - mountain lakes located in the north of Primorye,
• “Black Sand” beach located near the village of Zarubino in Aleut Bay - an interesting beach with volcanic black sand, which is considered to be curative,
• The lighthouse on the southern tip of Gamov Peninsula. Gamov Peninsula is the pearl of Primorye and the Far East.

Primorye krai of Russia photos

Landscapes of primorsky krai.

On the shore of the Sea of Japan in Primorsky Krai

Author: Konstantin Tkachenko

Primorsky Krai scenery

Small river in Primorye

Author: Melnitsky Stanislav

Primorsky Krai views

Forest in Primorsky Krai

Primorye landscape

Village in Primorsky Krai

Author: Roman Mikulchik

The comments of our visitors

So has the problem of Customs and Border controls been sorted out. The Area has a good future if red tape does not stifle the economics of trade (and survival). Francis

• Currently 2.84/5

Rating: 2.8 /5 (201 votes cast)