The Saturday-only tour centers around several restored offices and rooms, which department officials occupy during the week, and the paint analysis and research undertaken to reproduce their first color schemes and furnishings. Two rooms that have been restored to resemble their original appearance are the office of Salmon P. Chase, secretary of the Treasury during the Civil War, and the room Andrew Johnson used as a temporary office when he became president following Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Carved eagles, gilded keys and the U.S. insignia configuration in a dollar sign punctuate much of the ornamentation on furniture, molding and columns. Now the U.S. Mint looks after the gold and currency stash. Department of Treasury employees volunteer their Saturday mornings to guide visitors through the building.
Reservations are mandatory for any of the four scheduled tours.
They can be made up to noon on the Friday before the tour, and require the name and birth date of each person in your party. Bring a photo ID the day of your tour. Because you cannot be admitted to the building without a reservation and security clearance, it's a good idea to reconfirm your space by calling a few days before your scheduled Saturday. And, while the department has been lucky to maintain its White House view for nearly two centuries, its proximity to the presidential mansion makes parking as frustrating as trying to break into the treasurer's vault. Hop off the train at Metro Center to save yourself some time.