The Office of Legislative Services, Office of Public Information, offers guided tours of the State House for the general public. Groups of 10 or more must have advanced reservations. Staff and volunteer tour guides escort visitors through the building, explaining its history, art and architecture. Visitors also learn about the legislative process and their representatives who work here. Typical tours include the Senate and Assembly chamber galleries, party conference rooms, the rotunda and Governor's Office reception room. Please note that the Governor does not routinely greet tour groups. All visitors to the State House should be prepared to show identification and go through a security screening.

TOUR DAYS

Hourly Tours, Monday through Friday, 10am - 3 pm & 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, 12pm - 3pm. Closed Sundays and State holidays.

Tour availability is limited - especially in the Spring - so reservations should be made as far in advance as possible. Large group reservations (10 or more) require a minimum of one month's notice. Reservations can be made by calling the Tour Office at 609-847-3150 between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm. Please report cancellations as soon as possible.

Tours of 30 or more visitors may be divided to ensure a trouble-free visit. In order to best utilize our volunteer guides, small groups and individuals may be joined with larger groups when possible.

It is recommended that you allot 1 hour for a tour. More in-depth tours or large groups may require additional time.

All visitors on reserved guided tours receive age-appropriate activity booklets which combine educational resources with puzzles and games relevant to the Tour experience.

The State House Welcome Center houses interactive exhibits. Ample rest rooms, pay phones, drinking fountains and information assistance are located here as well.

A cafeteria adjacent to the parking garage offers a full service grill, deli and salad bar. It is open weekdays from 7:30am to 3pm. Reservations for groups are required. For more information, call 609-777-4308. A small concession stand located in the State House basement offers prepackaged lunch items and snacks.

Group brown-bag lunch space is available in a nearby facility. Advance reservations are required and may be arranged by calling the Tour Office at call 609-847-3150. This Office also provides information about local dining establishments.

Souvenirs are available for purchase at the State Museum, Old Barracks Museum and Trent House.

Visitors to the State House, especially school groups, may enjoy stopping in the Welcome Center to experience Just in Jersey - a series of interactive exhibits focusing on the law-making process, State House history, and New Jersey fun facts and trivia. Additional exhibits on the third floor of the State House employ pictures and artifacts to chronicle the development of this historic building and the ethnic diversity of our State.

Adult visitors with special interest in art and architecture may wish to tour the adjacent State House Annex. The annex tour lasts about 1 hour and is available only by prior arraignment. Tours at other nearby attractions, such as the State Museum (609-292-6464), Trent House(609-989-3027), and Old Barracks Museum (609-396-1776), can further a visitor's appreciation of our State and local history. Each organization must be contacted separately to make tour plans.

The Trenton Visitor's Center (609-777-1770) provides a full complement of materials useful for planning a trip to the capital city, including information on performing arts venues, local sporting events and dining options.

To ensure that visitors with special needs will be able to participate in and benefit from the programs, services and activities that take place at the Capitol Complex, every effort has been made to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Wheelchair Access: The State House and State House Annex are equipped with wheelchair accessible elevators, restrooms and phones. Public galleries are not wheelchair accessible. Visitors using wheelchairs will be granted access to the chamber floors through the main entrances on the first floor.

Visitors with Hearing Loss: The legislative chambers are equipped with built-in, ADA-compliant, FM assisted listening devices for persons with hearing loss. Headsets and receivers are available when requested 24 hours in advance. Real time reporters and sign language interpreters are available with a minimum of five working-days notice by calling 609-847-3353.

Signage: Signage in the State House Annex and Pedestrian Tunnel connecting the State House to the Annex contains Braille and raised lettering.

Printed Materials: Large-print versions of bills, resolutions and committee statements and many other publications can be obtained from the OLS Legislative Information and Bill Room. Other items can be enlarged or transferred on to audio cassette by request.

Parking and Entrances: Handicapped parking spaces are available within the Capitol Complex Parking Garage and on the south side of West State Street between the State House and Thomas Edison State College.
The West State Street entrances to the State House and State House Annex are equipped with wheelchair accessible ramps and power assisted doors.

The New Jersey Capitol Complex: Information For Visitors With Special Needs brochure provides further details. To obtain hard copies, call the Office of Legislative Services, Office of Public Information 609-847-3130.

Before you call to book a tour, be prepared to answer the following questions:

• Date(s) requested
• Number of participants in group
• Group affiliation
• Desired length of tour
• Does the group have any special interests?
• Do any participants have special needs (wheelchair access, etc.)?

After you call you will receive a packet containing a confirmation notice and several brochures with information related to your visit.

If you require any additional information, call the OLS Tour Office at 609-847-3150.