10 Spots to See on the Tour of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

One of the premier performing arts centers in the world, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was the vision of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was originally going to be named the National Cultural Center, but after John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1965, the center was named in Kennedy’s honor as a living memorial to the former president. Over 30 countries donated various gifts (mostly art work) which are on display throughout the Kennedy Center and over a dozen reception rooms.  The Kennedy Center has three instinct performing centers: The Concert Hall, the Opera House, and the Eisenhower Theater. The Kennedy Center is also home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Washington Opera.

Today, the Kennedy offers daily programs and events that range from theater, dance, and music to comedy, film, and exhibitions. Many events are free and open to the public, and there are tons of children focused programs.

Travel Tips:

Ten Stops on the Kennedy Center Tour:

1. The Hall of Nations displays a flag for every state and territory country which is considered a diplomatic “friend” of the United States. The Hall includes over 3,700 tons of carrara marble for the floors and walls, donated by Italy as a gift.
2. The Grand Foyer has 16 chandeliers, each weighing over one ton, donated by Sweden. The room is 3460 feet long, feet wide, and feet tall. Either end of the Grand Foyer has a small stage, where free, or low cost, performances are offered several days a week. 
3. Some of the lounges used for cocktail receptions, intermission gatherings, and press conferences. Most tours visit two or three lounges, including the Israeli Lounge (with the massive art installation made of walnut  depicting instruments with the Israeli name and ceiling panels painted with scenes from the Old Testament), the Opera House Circus Lounge (the most recently renovated and modern lounge with a three painting linen panels, a gift from Russia), and the African Lounge (which has no 90 degree angles with any wall or ceiling, and has a pair of carved wooden panels from a 700 year old tree), and the Chinese Lounge (donated by the People’s Republic of China and displays a large piece of calligraphy art). 
4. The Presidential Box in each of the three theaters. Controlled by the White House (and therefore, tickets must be arranged through the White House), each Presidential Box has the seal of the White House and decor decided by the First Lady (or Second Gentleman).  The Presidential Box has seating for 8-12 people depending on the theater.
5. The Concert Hall is home to the National Symphony Orchestra. The theater has 3,465 seats and seven crystal chandeliers, a gift from Norway, that can be lowered by hydraulics to be cleaned every few years.

6. The Opera House is the home of the Kennedy Center Honors performance every December. Sit in the Presidential box and see the view of the stage, four levels and balconies, and the 2,340 seats. Austria gifted the Center the chandelier, which is 50 feet wide and has over two thousand bulbs.
7. The Eisenhower Theater, named after Presidential Eisenhower, was most recently renovated in 2014 and has about 1,110 seats. This theater has a portrait of Eisenhower instead of the Presidential Seal above the Presidential Box door. 
8. The bust of JFK, which weighs three thousand pounds even though the inside of the bust is hollow, on display in the Grand Foyer.
9. The Top of the Center (during warmer months). The panoramic views afford visitors the chance to see the Washington Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, Arlington Cemetery, and the National Cathedral.   
10. The Terrace Theater is sometimes available for tours to take a peek. It was closed for cleaning on the date of our tour. Visitors are also welcome to explore the JFK Gallery on the Terrace Level, which hosts the Art and Ideals: President John F. Kennedy exhibit.

Bonus: If you have time, check out REACH, a 4.6 acre park next to the Kennedy Center, that opened in 2019 and includes several indoor and outdoor pavilions and spaces for studios and classrooms for rehearsals, small concerts, and receptions. 

Looking for other tours of performing arts center? Check our our posts featuring Carnegie Hall (NY), Radio City Music Hall (NY), the Met Opera House (NY) The Bushnell Performing Arts Center (CT), the Wang Theatre at the Boch Center (MA), and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (MA).

Looking for other adventures in Washington DC? See our index of posts here, our full Washington DC City Guide here, and our posts featuring the National Zoo, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History & Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, the International Spy Museum, the National Building Museum, the National Postal Museum, and Mount Vernon. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and X.