U.S. Bureau of Engraving & Printing: Show me the money!
Watch real currency printed at the nation’s only location that produces paper dollars! At the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, visitors see how U.S. paper currency is printed, stacked, cut and examined before distribution to the Federal Reserve banks. The bureau also prints a plethora of official U.S. government documents.
The BEP does not manufacture coins. They are made by the United States Mint. (Although its headquarters are in D.C., coin production facilities are in Philadelphia and Denver.)
The BEP was established in 1862 in the bottom of the U.S. Treasury building. The bureau moved to its current location just off of the National Mall in 1914. A second production location was set up in Fort Worth, Texas in 1991.
The BEP is home to a large historic collection of objects, including currency, printing proofs, postage stamps, migratory bird stamps, revenue stamps, Treasury securities, photographs, artwork, tools and equipment. Display cases located in the visitor center showcase these objects in exhibits that illustrate the history of the BEP.
The best way by far to get to the BEP is via Metrorail subway. The closest Metro stop is the Smithsonian Station, Independence Avenue exit (12th & Independence, SW) on the Blue and Orange line trains.
Tours occur every 15 minutes, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. During times of heightened security, the bureau could be closed. The free 40-minute experience includes an introductory film and gallery tour of the production process. The visitor center includes exhibits and currency products for sale.
Free tickets are required for all tours during the peak season (March through August) but not the remainder of the year. Cameras are allowed in the facility, but their use in the tour gallery is prohibited. Carry as little as possible to the bureau, as visitor must pass through security to enter.
Special VIP tours are available on a limited basis through your U.S. congressional office. These tours take place Monday through Friday at 8:15 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. May through August. Contact your local United States Senator or Representative for more information.
Posted by Jim Brown
