Bureau of Engraving and Printing

This government facility near the Tidal Basin produces the nation's paper currency and offers public tours of its production floors. From an elevated gallery, visitors watch large sheets of bills being printed, inspected, and cut, gaining a view of the security features that guard against counterfeiting. Exhibits trace the history of American money, from early notes to modern designs, and display rare and unusual currency. The tour is among the few chances in Washington to see a working federal manufacturing operation up close.